lecters

Lecters is the plural form of lector, a term used for a person who reads aloud to an audience. In English, lect ors is the standard plural, while lect ers appears in some texts as an older or regional variant. The concept is primarily tied to the act of public reading rather than interpretation or delivery of original content. In practice, lecters are associated with religious settings and with historical or scholarly roles involving reading and explaining texts.

Etymology and historical usage: The word derives from Latin lector, from legere “to read.” In medieval and early modern education, a lector was a reader or teacher who explained texts to students. The term carried intellectual authority and was used in universities and religious schools. Over time, the modern English distinction grew between lector-based usage and the separate term lecturer for someone who gives instructional talks.

Contexts and functions: In liturgical traditions such as the Catholic, Anglican, and some Orthodox services, a lector proclaims Scripture readings during worship. This ministry is distinct from preaching, cantoring, or mass administration duties. In educational history, lecters functioned as readers or instructors who guided students through texts, sometimes performing close reading or commentary. Today, the word is rarely used outside these specific historical or liturgical contexts, with lecturer and reader as more common contemporary terms.

See also: Lector; Lecturer; Liturgy; Religious reading.