n.1 an Anglican cleric ranking below a bishop.
2 a member of the clergy of similar rank in other Churches.
Derivatives:
archdeaconry n. (pl. -ies). archdeaconship n.
Etymology: OE arce-, ercediacon, f. eccl.L archidiaconus f. eccl.Gk arkhidiakonos (as ARCH-, DEACON)