prothonotary Definition
- 1an officer of the Supreme Court of the United States who is responsible for taking affidavits, issuing writs, and keeping records
- 2a chief clerk or record keeper, especially in a court of law
Using prothonotary: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "prothonotary" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The prothonotary of the Supreme Court is responsible for maintaining the official records of the court.
Example
The prothonotary of the local court is responsible for issuing writs and recording judgments.
Example
The prothonotary's office is located on the first floor of the courthouse.
prothonotary Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with prothonotary
a small North American songbird with yellow underparts and a grayish-blue head
Example
The prothonotary warbler is a rare bird that is found in wetlands and swamps.
a high-ranking official in the Roman Catholic Church who is responsible for issuing papal documents
Example
The prothonotary apostolic is one of the highest-ranking officials in the Vatican.
prothonotary's office
the office of the chief clerk or record keeper, especially in a court of law
Example
You can file your legal documents at the prothonotary's office.
Origins of prothonotary
from Middle English 'prothognotarie', from Old French 'protonotaire', from Late Latin 'protonotarius', from Greek 'protonotarios', meaning 'first scribe'
Summary: prothonotary in Brief
The term 'prothonotary' [proh-thon-uh-ter-ee] refers to an officer of the Supreme Court of the United States who is responsible for taking affidavits, issuing writs, and keeping records. It also refers to a chief clerk or record keeper, especially in a court of law. The term extends into phrases like 'prothonotary warbler,' 'prothonotary apostolic,' and 'prothonotary's office.'