ostiary

[ˈɒstɪəri]

ostiary Definition

a church official who guards the door and admits or excludes people from the church.

Using ostiary: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ostiary" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The ostiary greeted the parishioners as they entered the church.

• Example

  The ostiary refused to let the beggar enter the church.

ostiary Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ostiary

• doorkeeper
• usher
• attendant

Phrases with ostiary

• ostiary box

  a box in which the offerings of the congregation are placed

  Example

  The ostiary collected the donations and placed them in the ostiary box.

• ostiary key

  a key used to lock or unlock the church doors

  Example

  The ostiary key was handed over to the new ostiary after the old one retired.

• ostiary ministry

  the duties and responsibilities of an ostiary

  Example

  He was appointed to the ostiary ministry after completing his theological studies.

Origins of ostiary

from Latin 'ostiarius', meaning 'doorkeeper'

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Summary: ostiary in Brief

The term 'ostiary' [ˈɒstɪəri] refers to a church official who guards the door and admits or excludes people from the church. It is derived from the Latin word 'ostiarius,' meaning 'doorkeeper.' The ostiary's duties include greeting parishioners, collecting donations, and using the ostiary key to lock or unlock the church doors.