I. ˈəshə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ussher, from Middle French ussier, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin ustiarius doorkeeper, from Latin ostium, ustium door, mouth of a river + -arius -ary; akin to Sanskrit oṣṭha lip, Lithuanian uostas mouth of a river, Latin or-, os mouth — more at oral
1.
a. : an officer or servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, or chamber
b.
(1) : an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers or to walk before a person of rank
various ushers attached to the royal household in England including the Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod
(2) obsolete : something that precedes or gives indication of the approach of a person or thing : harbinger
c. : a minor official of an English court of law (as formerly the Court of Chancery) charged with maintaining silence and order
d. : one who escorts persons to seats at an assemblage (as in a theater, church, or hall)
e. : one employed to direct or assist patrons (as of a store) or visitors (as to a public building)
2. archaic : an assistant teacher in a private school
3. obsolete : a male attendant accompanying a lady
II. verb
( ushered ; ushered ; ushering -sh(ə)riŋ ; ushers )
transitive verb
1. : to conduct to a place
usher the bride's mother to her seat
2. : to precede as a herald or harbinger
3. : to serve as introduction for (as a discourse, essay, book) : preface
4. : to cause to enter : introduce
even before the child was ushered into the world — J.H.Cornyn
intransitive verb
: to serve as an usher
asked him to usher at his wedding