Meaning

(obsolete, historical) A chief legal clerk or notary in Roman Byzantium, and (hence) in Rome..

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete, historical) A chief legal clerk or notary in Roman Byzantium, and (hence) in Rome.
2. (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.
3. A registrar or chief clerk in various courts of law, especially (US) in a county court, (Australia) in certain state Supreme Courts, (Canada) in Federal Court.
4. (Greek Orthodoxy, historical) The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople.

Example Sentences

I accordingly did direct him how to enter an appearance with the prothonotary and to obtain a copy of the plaint or declaration.

Prothonotary was a pretty impressive-sounding title for a clerk of court, but that’s how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rolled.

Word Forms

• prothonotaries
• protonotary

Related Words

When Should You Use Prothonotary?

Use prothonotary when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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