liturgist
UK[ˈlɪtədʒɪst]US[ˈlɪtərdʒɪst]
n
A person who is an expert in or who leads liturgical forms and ceremonies.
n
A compiler or writer of liturgies.
Morpheme Breakdown
liturg
ist
liturg
public service
ist
practitioner
Etymology
The word 'liturgist' originates from the Greek leitourgia, a compound of leitos (public, from laos, "the people") and ergon (work). In ancient Greece, a liturgy was a public duty or service, such as funding a warship or a chorus for a festival, undertaken by wealthy citizens for the state. Adopted into Christian ecclesiastical Latin as liturgia, the term narrowed to denote the prescribed forms and rituals for public worship. The suffix -ist, indicating a person specializing in a particular field, was appended to form 'liturgist', signifying an expert or leader in the formal rites and ceremonies of a church.
Analysis
Structure: liturg (public service) + ist (practitioner)
liturg (from Greek leitourgia, meaning "public service, public work performed by a citizen") + ist (agent noun suffix, from Greek -istēs, denoting a person who practices or is concerned with something)
Examples
The bishop consulted the senior liturgist to ensure the ceremony followed traditional rites.
As a renowned liturgist, she has written several books on the history of Christian worship.
The committee of liturgists was responsible for revising the prayer book.