Standard Lemma guide

thurifer

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈθjʊəɹɪfə/
  • General-American: /ˈθ(j)ʊɹɪfɚ/
  • General-American: /ˈθɝɹɪfɚ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

An acolyte who carries a thurible.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an acolyte who carries a thurible

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: acolyte

History

Etymology

Originated 1850–55 from New Latin thūrifer (“incense-bearing”), tūrifer, from Latin thūs, tūs (“incense”) + -fer (“bearing”)

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: turiferář — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • Finnish: suitsuttaja — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • French: thuriféraire — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • German: Thurifer — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • German: Thuriferar — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • Italian: turiferario — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • Polish: turyferariusz — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • Portuguese: turiferário — acolyte who carries a thurible
  • Spanish: turiferario — acolyte who carries a thurible