usher
UK: ˈʌʃə | US: ˈʌʃər
n. a person who shows people to their seats in a theater, church, or at a formal event
vt. to lead or guide someone somewhere, especially ceremoniously
vt. to mark the beginning of something; introduce
usher = ush<door> + er<agent suffix>
- ush (from Old French ussier, meaning "doorkeeper," derived from Latin ostiarius < ostium "door")
- er (agent noun suffix in English, indicating a person who performs an action)
Etymology Origin:
The word "usher" traces back to Latin ostiarius (doorkeeper), via Old French ussier. It originally referred to a servant stationed at the door to admit guests. Over time, the role expanded to guiding people in formal settings, and the verb form emerged to describe the act of ceremoniously introducing or heralding something new.
The usher directed us to our seats at the wedding.
She was ushered into the CEO's office for a private meeting.
The treaty ushered in an era of peace between the nations.
A museum usher handed out brochures to visitors.
The invention of the smartphone ushered in a digital revolution.