Pronunciation: [dˈiːkə͡ʊnəs] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "deaconess" may be a bit tricky, but its phonetic transcription in IPA makes it easier to pronounce. The word is spelled as /ˈdiːkənɪs/ in IPA, with the stress on the second syllable. The "ea" in the word is pronounced as "ee," while the "o" in "ess" is silent. A "deaconess" is a woman who serves as a deacon in a church, and her role may involve assisting with baptism, communion, and other religious duties.
A deaconess is a term derived from the Greek word "diakonos" meaning "servant" or "minister." It refers to a woman who has been appointed or ordained to serve and assist within a religious community or congregation, specifically within the Christian faith.
In the early Christian church, deaconesses played a prominent role in various aspects of church ministry. Their responsibilities often included assisting with the baptism of women, visiting the sick and elderly members, providing care for the poor and marginalized, and offering pastoral support to women within the community. They were particularly involved in charitable and social welfare activities, ensuring the needs of the community were met.
Although the role and significance of deaconesses have varied throughout different Christian denominations and historical periods, the essence of their duties always encompassed service and ministry. In some churches, deaconesses may hold a formal position within the hierarchy, while in others, they may serve in an auxiliary role to support the overall mission of the church.
Deaconesses are often seen as exemplifying the virtues of compassion, empathy, and selflessness. Their dedicated service to both the spiritual and practical needs of the congregation highlights their commitment to fostering a sense of community, providing care and support to all members, and promoting the teachings of the faith through their actions.
Formerly a female deacon in Christian churches.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "deaconess" has its roots in Greek. It comes from the Greek word "diakonos", which means "servant" or "helper". In early Christian communities, the term "deaconess" referred to women who were appointed to serve the needs of the community, particularly in assisting with the care of women during baptism and other religious rites. The term has since evolved and is still used in some Christian denominations to refer to women who are ordained or designated to serve in specific roles within the Church.
