qualificatorn.
/ˈkwɒlᵻfᵻkeɪtə/, U.S. /ˈkwɑləfəˌkeɪdər/, /ˈkwɔləfəˌkeɪdər/ Roman Catholic Church. Now historical.
One of a board of theologians attached to the Holy Office of the Roman Catholic Church (see Holy Office at office n. 6c), whose duty it was to report on the character (heretical or otherwise) of propositions submitted to them. Also (with capital initial) as the title of such an officer. Cf. qualifier n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > pope > offices or officials > [noun] > qualificator
qualificator1661
qualifier1780
1661 T. White Devotion & Reason vi. 67 You may object that the Book is licens'd by the Saints Inquisition. I do not deny it, and that as for one of the qualificators.
1688 Bp. G. Burnet Three Lett. State of Italy 20 One of the Qualificators of the Inquisition.
1736 S. Chandler Hist. Persecution 178 The decision in such affairs belongs to the Divines, who are thence called Qualificators.
1790 J. Johnston tr. J. Bossuet Expos. Doctr. Catholic Church x Consultor and Qualificator of the holy Office.
1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 20 76 The whole..is then transferred by the Inquisitors to Theologians, Qualificators of the Holy Office.
1872 S. W. Barnum Romanism as it Is xi. 381 Dr. De Sanctis, who had been..a qualificator of this Inquisition, has given a description of the palace.
1903 S. Leathes et al. Cambr. Mod. Hist. II. xviii. 650 There were numerous Qualificators who gave their opinion on questions submitted to them.
1996 Irish Times (Nexis) 19 Mar. 13 The Franciscan..had founded St Isidore's and held the grand title of Qualificator of the Holy Office.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1661