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chancellor

 - 5 dictionary results

chan⋅cel⋅lor

  [chan-suh-ler, -sler, chahn-]
Use chancellor in a Sentence
–noun
1. the chief minister of state in certain parliamentary governments, as in Germany; prime minister; premier.
2. the chief administrative officer in certain American universities.
3. a secretary, as to a king or noble or of an embassy.
4. the priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery.
5. the title of various important judges and other high officials.
6. (in some states of the U.S.) the judge of a court of equity or chancery.
7. British. the honorary, nonresident, titular head of a university.

Origin:
bef. 1100; ME chanceler < AF < LL cancellārius doorkeeper, lit., man at the barrier (see chancel, -er 2 ); r. ME canceler, OE ≪ LL, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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chan·cel·lor   (chān'sə-lər, -slər)   
n.   Abbr. C.

  1. Any of various officials of high rank, especially:

    1. A secretary to a monarch or noble.

    2. Chiefly British The chief secretary of an embassy.

    3. The chief minister of state in some European countries.

    4. The president of certain American universities.

    5. Chiefly British The honorary or titular head of a university.

    1. The president of certain American universities.

    2. Chiefly British The honorary or titular head of a university.

  3. Law The presiding judge of a court of chancery or equity in some states of the United States.


[Middle English chaunceler, from Old French chancelier, from Late Latin cancellārius, doorkeeper, from Latin cancellī, bars, latticework; see cancel.]
chan'cel·lor·ship' n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

chancellor 
c.1131 (a variant form existed in O.E.), from O.Fr. chancelier, from L.L. cancellarius "keeper of the barrier, secretary, usher of a law court," so called because he worked behind a lattice at a basilica or law court (see chancel). In the Roman Empire, a sort of court usher; the post gradually gained importance in the Western kingdoms.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: chan·cel·lor
Pronunciation: 'chan-s&-l&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier
1 : the head of a chancery: as a : the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain b : a judge in a court of equity in various states
2 a : a university president b : the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education
3 : the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Bible Dictionary

Chancellor

one who has judicial authority, literally, a "lord of judgement;" a title given to the Persian governor of Samaria (Ezra 4:8, 9, 17).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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