Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Usher?

\Ush"er\, n. [OE. ussher, uschere, OF. ussier, uisser, oissier, hussier, huissier, fr. L. ostiarius a doorkeeper, fr. ostium a door, entrance, fr. os mouth. See {Oral}, and cf. {Ostiary}.] 1. An officer or servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, chamber, or the like; hence, an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers, or to walk before a person of rank. Also, one who escorts persons to seats in a church, theater, etc. ``The ushers and the squires.'' --Chaucer. These are the ushers of Marcius. --Shak. Note: There are various officers of this kind attached to the royal household in England, including the gentleman usher of the black rod, who attends in the House of Peers during the sessions of Parliament, and twelve or more gentlemen ushers. See {Black rod}. 2. An under teacher, or assistant master, in a school.
\Ush"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ushered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ushering}.] To introduce or escort, as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger; to forerun; -- sometimes followed by in or forth; as, to usher in a stranger; to usher forth the guests; to usher a visitor into the room. The stars that usher evening rose. --Milton. The Examiner was ushered into the world by a letter, setting forth the great genius of the author. --Addison.