In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
PROTHONOTARY
Etymology
Noun
prothonotary (plural prothonotaries)
(obsolete, historical) A chief legal clerk or notary in Roman Byzantium, and (hence) in Rome. [15th–19th c.]
(Roman Catholicism) One of the seven prelates, constituting a college in the Roman Curia, whose office is to register pontifical acts and to make and preserve the official record of beatifications. [from 15th c.]
A registrar or chief clerk in various courts of law, especially (US) in a county court, (Australia) in certain state Supreme Courts. [from 17th c.]
(Greek Orthodox Church, historical) The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople. [from 18th c.]
Source: Wiktionary
Pro*thon"o*ta*ry, or; Pro*ton"o*ta*ry, n.; pl. -ries. Etym: [LL. protonotarius, fr. Gr. prw os first + L. notarius a shorthand writer, a scribe: cf. F. protonotaire.]
1. A chief notary or clerk. " My private prothonotary." Herrick.
2. Formerly, a chief clerk in the Court of King's Bench and in the Court of Common Pleas, now superseded by the master. [Eng.] Wharton. Burrill.
3. A register or chief clerk of a court in certain States of the United States.
4. (R. C. Ch.)
Definition: Formerly, one who had the charge of writing the acts of the martyrs, and the circumstances of their death; now, one of twelve persons, constituting a college in the Roman Curia, whose office is to register pontifical acts and to make and preserve the official record of beatifications.
5. (Gr. Ch.)
Definition: The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople. Prothonotary warbler (Zoöl.), a small American warbler (Protonotaria citrea). The general color is golden yellow, the back is olivaceous, the rump and tail are ash-color, several outer tail feathers are partly white.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
4 April 2025
GUILLOTINE
(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”
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