rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryescortProtective or formal accompaniment
noun / verb

escort

ih-SKORT/ɛskˈɔrt/

A person who accompanies someone for protection or ceremony.

The blind man holds his escort's elbow as they walk together.

A sighted guide walks alongside a blind man, who holds her offered elbow and uses a white cane, making accompaniment for guidance visibly concrete.
Etymology
escortItaliana guiding

Scorta literally meant “a guiding.” Escort first referred to an armed guard and to accompanying someone under protection, then broadened to include accompanying someone as a social courtesy.

In context

Border Security36:39
The Australian Federal Police arrived to escort the passenger to the hospital
Most Dangerous Internal Smuggling Attempts Exposed! | Border Security Compilation

More examples

  • Two officers escort the witness safely out of the courthouse.
  • The ambassador's escorts accompany her into the banquet hall.
  • An usher is escorting the bride's mother to her seat.

Forms

escort · escorts · escorted · escorting

Similar words

guard
Provides protection without necessarily accompanying the person or thing protected.
guide
Shows the way rather than providing protection or ceremonial company.
attendant
Provides service or assistance, not necessarily protection while accompanying someone.