| Usher | 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] These are the ushers of Marcius. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An under teacher, or assistant master, in a school. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Usher | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] The stars that usher evening rose. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] The Examiner was ushered into the world by a letter, setting forth the great genius of the author. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ] |
