acolyte

UK: /ˈækəlaɪt/ US: /ˈækəˌlaɪt/ ,(ak′ə līt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•o•lyte /ˈækəˌlaɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Religion an attendant to a clergyman in a religious service.
2. any attendant or follower.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•o•lyte  (ak′ə līt′), n. 

1. an altar attendant in public worship;
   altar boy.
2. [Rom. Cath. Ch.]
   • a member of the highest-ranking of the four minor orders.
   • the order itself. Cf. exorcist (def. 2), lector (def. 2), ostiary (def. 1).
3. any attendant, assistant, or follower.

• Greek akólouthos follower, attendant, equivalent. to a- prefix denoting association + -kolouthos, variant of kéleuthos road, journey
• Medieval Latin acolytus
• Middle English acolite 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

acolyte / ˈækəˌlaɪt/ noun

1. a follower or attendant
2. an officer who attends or assists a priest

Etymology: 16th Century: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek akolouthos a follower