Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Notary
No′ta-ry
,Noun.
pl.
Notaries
(#)
. 1.
One who records in shorthand what is said or done;
as, the
. notary
of an ecclesiastical body2.
(Eng. & Am. Law)
A public officer who attests or certifies deeds and other writings, or copies of them, usually under his official seal, to make them authentic, especially in foreign countries. His duties chiefly relate to instruments used in commercial transactions, such as protests of negotiable paper, ship’s papers in cases of loss, damage, etc. He is generally called a
notary public
. Webster 1828 Edition
Notary
NO'TARY
,Noun.
1.
Primarily, a person employed to take notes of contracts, trials and proceedings in courts among the Romans.2.
In modern usage, an officer authorized to attest contracts or writings of any kind, to give them the evidence of authenticity. This officer is often styled notary public.