I. ˈə-shər noun
Etymology: Middle English ussher, from Anglo-French ussier, usscher, from Vulgar Latin * ustiarius doorkeeper, from Latin ostium, ustium door, mouth of a river — more at ostium
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : an officer or servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, or chamber
b. : an officer who walks before a person of rank
c. : one who escorts persons to their seats (as in a theater)
2. archaic : an assistant teacher
II. verb
( ush·ered ; ush·er·ing ˈə-sh(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 1588
transitive verb
1. : to conduct to a place
2. : to precede as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger
3. : to cause to enter : introduce
a new theory usher ed into the world
intransitive verb
: to serve as an usher
usher at a wedding