Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
A petitioner; someone who seeks some type of favour from another, usually from a superior.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A man employed in praying; especially one who prays for another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: England, historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A public almsman; one who received alms from the king, and was expected in return to pray for the royal welfare and that of the state; a licensed beggar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bedesman
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prayer, supplicant
History
From earlier bedeman, from Middle English bedeman (“a petitioner”), equivalent to bead (“request, petition, prayer”) + -man.
