Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
(Anglican Church) an ecclesiastical dignitary usually ranking just below a bishop;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Archdeacon \Arch`dea"con\, n. [AS. arcediacon, archidiacon, L.
archidiaconus, fr. Gr. ?. See Arch-, pref., and Deacon.]
In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a
bishop, whom he assists, and by whom he is appointed, though
with independent authority. --Blackstone.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
archdeacon
n 1: (Anglican Church) an ecclesiastical dignitary usually
ranking just below a bishop