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prothonotary

[ proh-thon-uh-ter-ee, proh-thuh-noh-tuh-ree ]

noun

, plural pro·thon·o·tar·ies.
  1. a chief clerk or official in certain courts of law.
  2. Roman Catholic Church.
    1. any of the seven members of the college of prothonotaries apostolic, charged chiefly with the registry of pontifical acts and canonizations.
    2. an honorary title for certain other prelates.
  3. Greek Orthodox Church. the chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople.


prothonotary

/ -trɪ; prəʊˌθɒnəˈtɛərɪəl; ˌprəʊθəˈnəʊtərɪ; prəʊˈθɒnə- /

noun

  1. (formerly) a chief clerk in certain law courts


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Derived Forms

  • prothonotarial, adjective

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Other Words From

  • pro·thon·o·tar·i·al [proh-thon-, uh, -, tair, -ee-, uh, l, proh-th, uh, -noh-, tair, -], adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prothonotary1

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin prōthonotārius, Late Latin prōtonotārius < Greek prōtonotā́rios. See proto-, notary

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prothonotary1

C15: from Medieval Latin prōthonotārius, from prōtho- proto- + Late Latin notārius notary

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Example Sentences

You turn up your eyes in wonder—the prothonotary of an English court would scarcely sport such a fox-hunter's garb.

Alexander lured the prothonotary to Rome and, having confined him in the castle of S. Angelo, began a process against him.

I speeded to the prothonotary's office, which was kept in the village, and quickly ascertained the truth of Hadwin's pretensions.

Another of this family conspicuous for its brilliant coloring is the prothonotary warbler.

That day I found the first nest of the prothonotary warbler.

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prothesisprothonotary apostolic