protonotary noun. [prǝʊtǝ'nǝʊt(ǝ)ri, prǝ'tɒnǝt(ǝ)ri] Also prothonotary [prǝʊƟǝ'nǝʊt(ǝ)ri, prǝ'Ɵɒnǝt(ǝ)ri]. LME.
[medieval Latin protonotarius, protho- from Greek prōtonotarios, formed as PROTO- + notarios NOTARY.]
1. A principal notary or chief clerk of a court of law; spec. (a) Hist. the holder of that office in the Byzantine court; (b) in England, the chief clerk or registrar in the Courts of Chancery, of Common Pleas, and of the King's or Queen's Bench; (c) in some Australian States, a chief administrative officer of a court. LME.

2. Roman Catholic Church. More fully Protonotary Apostolical. A member of the college of twelve (formerly seven) prelates who register papal acts and keep records of beatifications and canonizations. Formerly also, (a title of) a papal envoy. L15.

3. Chiefly Hist. A chief secretary at the court of any of various countries. E16.

Comb.:
prothonotary warbler an American wood warbler, Protonotarius citrea, with a deep yellow head and breast, green back, and blue-grey wings.

■ protonotaryship noun the office or position of a protonotary M16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲