Usher
Pronunciation
- enPR: Åshʹ-É™r, IPA: /ˈʌʃər/
- AU IPA: ˈaʃ.ə(ɹ)
- UK IPA: ˈʌʃ.ə(ɹ)
- US IPA: ˈʌʃ.ɚ
- Rhymes: -ʌʃə(r)
- Hyphenation: ush + er
Origin
From Old French (h)uissier, from Vulgar Latin *ustiÄrius ("doorkeeper"), from Latin ÅstiÄrius, from ostium ("door"). Akin to Ås ("mouth").
Derived terms
Verb
- To guide people to their seats.
- 1836, Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz, "The curate. The old lady. The half-pay captain."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;
- To accompany or escort (someone).
- 1898, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, page 509Margaret was astonished at the magnificence of the apartments into which she was ushered.
- (figuratively) To precede; to act as a forerunner or herald.
- 1912, Elizabeth Christine Cook, Literary Influences in Colonial Newspapers, 1704-1750, page 31Thus the Harvard poets and wits ushered The New England Courant out of existence.
- (figuratively, transitive) to lead or guide somewhere
- 2011, December 29, Keith Jackson, SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0, McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian.