liturgist
Meaning
A person who is an expert in or who leads liturgical forms and ceremonies.
A compiler or writer of liturgies.
Structure
Usage
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.
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
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)