prothonotary

noun

pro·​tho·​no·​ta·​ry prō-ˈthä-nə-ˌter-ē  ˌprō-thə-ˈnō-tə-rē 

variants or protonotary

prō-ˈtä-nə-ˌter-ē 

ˌprō-tə-ˈnō-tə-rē

plural prothonotaries

: a chief clerk of any of various courts of law

prothonotarial

prō-ˌthä-nə-ˈter-ē-əl 

ˌpro-thə-nō-ˈter-ē-əl

adjective

Examples of prothonotary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Blew is tasked with facilitating naturalization ceremonies in York County, Pennsylvania, as the county's prothonotary -- a clerk who handles civil matters. —Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 June 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prothonotarie, from Late Latin protonotarius, from prot- + Latin notarius stenographer — more at notary public

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prothonotary

• prothonotary apostolic
• prothonotary warbler

Legal Definition

prothonotary

noun

pro·​thon·​o·​ta·​ry prə-ˈthä-nə-ˌter-ē, ˌprō-thə-ˈnä-tə-rē 

plural prothonotaries

: a chief clerk of any of various courts of law

prothonotarial

prə-ˌthä-nə-ˈter-ē-əl 

adjective

Etymology

Late Latin protonotarius, from proto- first in time + Latin notarius stenographer