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Usher

//ˈʌʃəɹ// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname originating as an occupation for an usher. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A suburb of Bunbury, Western Australia. countable, uncountable
Noun
  1. 1
    A person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
  2. 2
    someone employed to conduct others wordnet
  3. 3
    A male escort at a wedding.
  4. 4
    an official stationed at the entrance of a courtroom or legislative chamber wordnet
  5. 5
    A doorkeeper in a courtroom.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    An assistant to a head teacher or schoolteacher; an assistant teacher. obsolete

    "[H]e defrayed the expence of his entrance, and left him in the particular care and inspection of the usher, who […] though obliged by the scandalous administration of fortune to act in the character of an inferior teacher, had by his sole capacity and application, brought the school to that degree of reputation which it never could have obtained from the talents of his superior."

  2. 7
    Any schoolteacher. dated, derogatory
Verb
  1. 1
    To guide people to their seats. transitive

    "Her entrance into church on Sunday is always the signal for a little bustle in the side aisle, occasioned by a general rise among the poor people, who bow and curtsey until the pew-opener has ushered the old lady into her accustomed seat, dropped a respectful curtsey, and shut the door;"

  2. 2
    take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums wordnet
  3. 3
    To accompany or escort (someone). transitive

    "[N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him who can[.]"

  4. 4
    To precede; to act as a forerunner or herald. figuratively, transitive

    "Thus the Harvard poets and wits ushered The New England Courant out of existence."

  5. 5
    To lead or guide somewhere. figuratively, transitive

    "McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.

Etymology 2

From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.

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