Definition of protonotary in English:
protonotary
(also prothonotary)
nounPlural protonotariesprəˈtɒnət(ə)riˌprəʊtəˈnəʊt(ə)riˌproʊdəˈnoʊdəri
historical A chief clerk in some law courts, originally in the Byzantine court.
Example sentencesExamples
- And the inherent jurisdiction is sometimes invoked by the prothonotary, is it not, as it was in Ziems, I think.
- Oh, you'll tell me the protonotaries and clerks of the court are writers too.
- All civil litigation is filed with the prothonotary, including unpaid debt, mortgage foreclosures and personal injury cases.
- In Pennsylvania government functions done elsewhere by appointed department heads are performed by elected officials, including county coroner (who doesn't have to be a licensed medical examiner) and prothonotary or chief notary.
- What was sought by the application for security was an order that the defendants provide security for the costs of the appeal to the prothonotary in a form satisfactory to the prothonotary.
Origin
Late Middle English: via medieval Latin from late Greek prōtonotarios, from prōtos 'first' + notarios 'notary'.
Rhymes
coterie, notary, rotary, votary
Definition of protonotary in US English:
protonotary
(also prothonotary)
nounˌproʊdəˈnoʊdəriˌprōdəˈnōdərē
historical A chief clerk in some courts of law, originally in the Byzantine court.
Example sentencesExamples
- In Pennsylvania government functions done elsewhere by appointed department heads are performed by elected officials, including county coroner (who doesn't have to be a licensed medical examiner) and prothonotary or chief notary.
- And the inherent jurisdiction is sometimes invoked by the prothonotary, is it not, as it was in Ziems, I think.
- What was sought by the application for security was an order that the defendants provide security for the costs of the appeal to the prothonotary in a form satisfactory to the prothonotary.
- All civil litigation is filed with the prothonotary, including unpaid debt, mortgage foreclosures and personal injury cases.
- Oh, you'll tell me the protonotaries and clerks of the court are writers too.
Origin
Late Middle English: via medieval Latin from late Greek prōtonotarios, from prōtos ‘first’ + notarios ‘notary’.