stonepicnicking_okapi: letters (letters)
stonepicnicking_okapi ([personal profile] stonepicnicking_okapi) wrote2024-12-04 04:29 pm
Entry tags:

Word: Sexton

Wednesday's word is...

...sexton.

[ˈsekst(ə)n]

noun

a person who looks after a church and churchyard, sometimes acting as bell-ringer and formerly as a gravedigger.

example
But as the sexton was a secret disciple of the opposition they had him hid away near the church, and at a given signal he was to appear with the keys.

History of the First African Baptist Church, From its Organization, January 20th, 1788, to July 1st, 1888. Including the Centennial Celebration, Addresses, Sermons, Etc. Emanuel King 1888


origin

Middle English secresteyn, sexteyn, from Anglo-French segrestein, from Medieval Latin sacristanus


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I was listening to this earlier today by my favourite ghost story narrator. A bit of Christmas Dickens.

smallhobbit: (Holmes Christmas)

[personal profile] smallhobbit 2024-12-04 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Always useful in a Victorian/Golden Age murder mystery/ghost story.
kitarella_imagines: Profile photo (Default)

[personal profile] kitarella_imagines 2024-12-05 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I always get a sexton mixed up with a sextant, that thing for measuring! lol.