‖Voorlezer, noun

/ˈfʊərlɪəsə(r)/
Forms:
Also Voorleezer, and with small initial.
Origin:
South African Dutch, AfrikaansShow more South African Dutch, ‘reader’ (Afrikaans voorleser), from voorlezen to read aloud.
historical
dominee sense 1.
1833 Graham’s Town Jrnl 30 May 3Pray can you inform me if a certain of my brethern [sic] is again elevated to the dignity of a Reverend...It grieved me sore to have seen him a few years back, after his return from Latta-kooing, performing the duties of a Voorlezer.
1927 C.G. Botha Social Life in Cape Col. 43The clerk, or ‘voorleezer,’ known as the Dominie, opened by giving out a psalm sung to the accompaniment of an organ.
1927 C.G. Botha Social Life in Cape Col. 73The village school was in charge of the Voorlezer or Parish Clerk who instructed the youth in reading, writing and arithmetic, the psalms and church catechism.
1934 M.E. McKerron Hist. of Educ. 136 (Swart)Fairly soon the terms voorlezer (reader) and voorzanger (precentor) creep into the records.
1968 F.C. Metrowich Frontier Flames 125In the small towns and villages the Voorlezer or Parish Clerk, clad in a dignified black coat, waistcoat, breeches and long stockings, was also the local schoolteacher.
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18331968

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historical
voorlaaier, nounn.voorloop, nounn.
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