prothonotary

(prō t̸hän′ə ter′ē, prō′t̸hə nōt′ər ē)

Now Rare a chief clerk in some law courts
R.C.Ch. any of the seven members of the College of Prothonotaries Apostolic, who record important pontifical events: also sometimes held as an honorary title by other ecclesiastics

Origin: ME < ML prothonotarius < LL(Ec) protonotarius: see proto- & notary

See prothonotary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pro·thon·o·tar·ies also pro·ton·o·tar·ies

The principal clerk in certain courts of law.
Roman Catholic Church One of a college of 12 ecclesiastics charged with the registry of important pontifical proceedings.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English prothonotarie

Origin: , from Medieval Latin prōthonotārius

Origin: , from Late Latin prōtonotārius

Origin: : Greek prōto-, proto-

Origin: + Latin notārius, secretary (from nota, mark; see gnō- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms: