Etymology Dictionary

ACOLYTE,  a servitor.  (F.,—Gk.)   Cotgrave has 'Acolyte, Accolite, he that ministers to the priest while he sacrifices or saies mass.'—Low Lat. acolythus, borrowed from Gk.—Gk. ἀκόλουθος, a follower.—Gk. ἀ-, with (akin to Skt. sa-, sam, with); and κἑλευθος, a road, way; so that ἀκόλουθος meant originally 'a travelling companion.'   The Gk. κἑλευθος is cognate with Lat. callis, a path.  ¶ Fick, i. 43, suggests the ✔KAR, to run; which Curtius, i. 179, hardly accepts. [†]

ADDENDA

Not (F.,—Gk.), but rather (F.,—Low L.,—Gk.), though it makes but little difference.   The same remark applies to Allegory, Almanac, Anchoret, Apostasy, Apostate, Barge, Bark (1), Calendar, Calm, Carbine, Card (1), Carte, Catalogue, Cauterise, Celandine, Chronicle, Clergy, Climacter, Climate, Clinical, &c.   But see remark on Bark (1).