n. & v.
--n.
1. a person who shows people to their seats in a hall or theatre etc.
2 a doorkeeper at a court etc.
3 Brit. an officer walking before a person of rank.
4 archaic or joc. an assistant teacher.
--v.tr.
1. act as usher to.
2 (usu. foll. by in) announce or show in etc. (ushered us into the room; ushered in a new era).
Derivatives:
ushership n.
Etymology: ME f. AF usser, OF uissier, var. of huissier f. med.L ustiarius for L ostiarius f. ostium door