A deaconess is a woman doing deacon’s work in some Christian churches: a role just below a priest where that ranking exists, or a woman set apart to serve — visiting, teaching, care, and sometimes nursing or charity work. The word is simply deacon with an old ending that marked a woman.

A deaconess is a woman doing deacon's work in some Christian churchesdeaconess是在某些基督教會裡做執事工作的女性: a role just below a priest where that ranking exists在有這種階級的教會裡是僅次於神父的一個角色, or a woman set apart to serve或者是被特別指派來服事的女性 — visiting, teaching, care, and sometimes nursing or charity work包括探訪、教導、關懷，有時候還有護理或慈善工作。The word is simply deacon with an old ending that marked a woman這個字其實就是deacon加上一個古老、用來標示女性的字尾

Though actually, churches do not agree on the word any more. Some still say deaconess with pride. Others now call women deacons, and deaconess sounds old-fashioned to them, the way actress still exists beside actor. Neither habit is “wrong”; it is church custom.

Though actually, churches do not agree on the word any more不過其實，各教會現在對這個字已經沒有共識了。Some still say deaconess with pride有些教會仍然驕傲地使用deaconess這個字, others now call women deacons另外有些教會現在把女性稱作deacon, and deaconess sounds old-fashioned to them對他們來說deaconess聽起來就過時了, the way actress still exists beside actor就像actress雖然還在用，actor也並存一樣。Neither habit is "wrong"這兩種習慣都不算「錯」; it is church custom只是教會各自的習慣

You will meet the word in older books, in some Protestant and Orthodox settings, and in churches that kept a separate women’s ministry. It is church English, not everyday street English.

You will meet the word in older books你會在比較舊的書裡遇到這個字, in some Protestant and Orthodox settings也會在一些新教和東正教的場合看到, and in churches that kept a separate women's ministry還有在保留獨立女性事工的教會裡。It is church English, not everyday street English這是教會用語，不是日常街頭英語