ostiary

[ os-tee-er-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural os·ti·ar·ies.

Also called doorkeeper, porter. Roman Catholic Church.
1. a member of the lowest-ranking of the four minor orders.
2. the order itself. Compare acolyte ( def 2 ), exorcist ( def 2 ), lector ( def 2 ).
a doorkeeper, as of a church.

ostiary

/ ˈɒstɪərɪ /

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Origin of ostiary¹

1400–50; late Middle English hostiary < Latin ōstiārius doorkeeper, equivalent to ōsti ( um ) door, entrance ( ostium ) + -ārius -ary

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Origin of ostiary¹

C15: from Latin ostiārius doorkeeper, from ostium door

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In the decline of his popularity he permitted his door-keeper, whom he dignifies with the title of Ostiary, to take a shilling!

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