Hypertext Webster Gateway: "archdeacon"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Archdeacon \Arch`dea"con\, n. [AS. arcediacon, archidiacon, L.
archidiaconus, fr. Gr. ?. See {Arch-}, pref., and {Deacon}.]
In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a
bishop, whom he assists, and by whom he is appointed, though
with independent authority. --Blackstone.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
archdeacon
n : (Anglican Church) an ecclesiastical dignitary usually
ranking just below a bishop
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.