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Webster 1828 Edition
Prothonotary
PROTHON'OTARY
,Noun.
1.
Originally, the chief notary; and anciently, the title of the principal notaries of the emperors of Constantinople. Hence,2.
In England, an officer in the court of king's bench and common pleas. The prothonotary of the king's bench records all civil actions. In the common pleas, the prothonotaries, of which there are three, enter and enroll all declarations, pleadings, judgments, &c., make out judicial writs and exemplifications of records, enter recognizances, &c.3.
In the United States, a register or clerk of a court. The word however is not applied to any officer, except in particular states.Apostolical prothonotaries, in the court of Rome, are twelve persons constituting a college, who receive the last wills of cardinals, make informations and proceedings necessary for the canonization of saints, &c.
Definition 2024
prothonotary
prothonotary
English
Alternative forms
Noun
prothonotary (plural prothonotaries)
- A chief clerk of one of various courts of law.
- Herrick
- My private prothonotary.
- Herrick
- The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople.
- One who had the charge of writing the acts of the martyrs, and the circumstances of their death.
- 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.