■ noun
1》 a person who shows people to their seats in a cinema or theatre or at a wedding.
2》 Brit. a person employed to walk before a person of high rank on special occasions.
3》 an official in a law court who swears in jurors and witnesses and keeps order.
4》 archaic an assistant teacher.
■ verb
1》 show or guide somewhere.
2》 ( ~ something in ) cause or mark the start of something new.
Origin
ME (denoting a doorkeeper): from Anglo-Norman Fr. usser , from med. L. ustiarius , from L. ostiarius , from ostium 'door'.