beadle
3
9.9
- noun
- /ˈbiːdəl/
- UK
:
bedel
- As the beadle in charge of ceremonies, he ensured everything ran smoothly during the graduation.
Examples
-
You were the beadle here once, were you not?
-
Miss Beadle always opened the school day with a prayer and a song.
Fiction book (2002) -
You will be welcome, Beadle Bamford.
-
Be good enough to tell Mr. Sowerberry that the beadle is here.
-
Oliver was frightened at the sight of so many gentlemen, which made him tremble; and the beadle gave him another tap behind, which made him cry.
Academic text (2005) -
The beadle greeted the students as they entered the university chapel.
-
Miss Beadle announced the start of the meeting with a warm welcome for all attendees.
Synonyms
∞
3.7
A person who works for a government or organization and has power to make and enforce rules
5
9.2
A church worker who looks after the building and rings the bell
A person who takes care of a synagogue and organizes its services
A person who has an official job in a church and helps lead it
How Important
Surface Forms
Etymology
Beadle comes from the Old English verb beodan, which means 'to call' or 'to order', and is the same root as the English word bid ('to ask' or 'to order'). A beadle was originally the person who called people to church and kept order, so today a beadle is a small official who leads ceremonies and keeps order.