Dea"con (?), v. t. To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, -- usually with off. [Colloq. New. Eng.] See Line, v. t.
The expression is derived from a former custom in the Congregational churches of New England. It was part of the office of a deacon to read aloud the psalm given out, one line at a time, the congregation singing each line as soon as read; -- called, also, lining out the psalm.
Dea"con*ess (?), n. (Eccl.) A female deacon; as: (a) (Primitive Ch.) One of an order of women whose duties resembled those of deacons. (b) (Ch. of Eng. and Prot. Epis. Ch.) A woman set apart for church work by a bishop. (c) A woman chosen as a helper in church work, as among the Congregationalists.
Dea"con*hood (?), n. The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.
Dea"con*ry (?), n. See Deaconship.
Dea"con*ship, n. The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.
Dead (dd), a. [OE. ded, dead, deed, AS. deád; akin to OS. dd, D. dood, G. todt, tot, Icel. dauðr, Sw. & Dan. död, Goth. daubs; prop. p. p. of an old verb meaning to die. See Die, and cf. Death.] 1. Deprived of life; -- opposed to alive and living; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a dead man. "The queen, my lord, is dead." Shak.
The crew, all except himself, were dead of hunger.
Arbuthnot.
Seek him with candle, bring him dead or living.
Shak.