Sexton SEX'TON, n. [contracted from sacristan, which see.] An
under officer of the church, whose buiness is to take care of the vessels,
vestments, etc. belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating
clergyman and perform other duties pertaining to the church, to dig
graves, etc.
Sexton
n 1: United States poet (1928-1974) [syn: Sexton, Anne
Sexton}]
2: an officer of the church who is in charge of sacred objects
[syn: sexton, sacristan]
sexton nounEtymology: Middle English secresteyn, sexteyn, from
Anglo-French segrestein, from Medieval Latin sacristanus
— more at sacristanDate: 14th century
a church officer or employee who takes care of the church property and
performs related minor duties (as ringing the bell for services and
digging graves)
sexton n. a person who looks after a church and churchyard, often acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger. Phrases and idioms: sexton beetle any beetle of the genus Necrophorus, burying
carrion to serve as a nidus for its eggs. Etymology: ME segerstane etc., f. AF, OF segerstein, secrestein f. med.L sacristanus SACRISTAN
sexton
ˈsekstən n. a person who looks after a church and churchyard, often
acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger. øsexton beetle any beetle of the genus
Necrophorus, burying carrion to serve as a nidus for its eggs. [ME segerstane
etc., f. AF, OF segerstein, secrestein f. med.L sacristanus SACRISTAN]
Sexton
See yonder maker of the dead man's bed,
The sexton, hoary-headed chronicle!
Of hard, unmeaning face, down which ne'er stole
A gentle tear; with mattock in his hand,
Digs thro' whole rows of kindred and acquaintance
By far his juniors! Scarce a skull's cast up
But well he knew its owner, and can tell
Some passage of his life.
BLAIR: The Grave, Line 452.
His death, which happened in his berth,
At forty-odd befell:
They went and told the sexton, and
The sexton tolled the bell.
HOOD: Faithless Sally Brown.
Sexton \Sex"ton\, n. [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.]
An under officer of a church, whose business is to take care
of the church building and the vessels, vestments, etc.,
belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating
clergyman, and to perform other duties pertaining to the
church, such as to dig graves, ring the bell, etc.
Sexton beetle (Zo["o]l.), a burying beetle.
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