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 Formerly, a chief clerk in the Court of King's Bench and in the Court of Common Pleas, now superseded by the master.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