Usher Meaning
/ˈʌʃəɹ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
nounA male escort at a wedding.
Sentence Examples
Recent advances in medicine will usher in a new age in medical care.
Very soon we will usher in a new year.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The polite attendant will ____ guests to their seats before the concert begins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ showed us to our seats in the theater exactly five minutes before the start of the play today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[H]e defrayed the expence of his entrance, and left him in the particular care and inspection of the usher, who […] though obliged by the scandalous administration of fortune to act in the character of an inferior teacher, had by his sole capacity and application, brought the school to that degree of reputation which it never could have obtained from the talents of his superior."
— 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
"He began to learn Latin with Mr. Hawkins, usher, or under-master of Lichfield school, ‘a man (said he) very skilful in his little way.’"
— 1791, James Boswell, “(please specify the year)”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC:
"Her entrance into church on Sunday is always the signal for a little bustle in the side aisle, occasioned by a general rise among the poor people, who bow and curtsey until the pew-opener has ushered the old lady into her accustomed seat, dropped a respectful curtsey, and shut the door;"
— 1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, chapter THE CURATE. THE OLD LADY. THE HALF-PAY CAPTAIN.:
"Needless to say, one's seat must be booked in advance and a platoon of urbane officials, one to each door of the train, awaits passengers to usher them to their seats and relieve them of their bulkier baggage."
— 1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 140:
"[N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him who can[.]"
— c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature H2, recto:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The polite attendant will ____ guests to their seats before the concert begins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ showed us to our seats in the theater exactly five minutes before the start of the play today.