ðeɪ ɡɹˈædʒuːəli dˌɪsɐpˈɪɹd æz ɐn ˈɑːfɪs baɪ ðə twˈɛlfθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi ɪnðə wˈɛst ænd wɜː ɹᵻplˈeɪst baɪ ˌɑːɹtʃdˈiːkənz tʊ ɐdmˈɪnɪstɚ sˌʌbdᵻvˈɪʒənz əvə dɪoʊsˈiːz.
They gradually disappeared as an office by the 12th century in the West and were replaced by archdeacons to administer subdivisions of a diocese.