English Explanatory Dictionary

notary public

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An officer who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents and perform certain other acts varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Pronunciation

/ˈnəʊtəɹi ˈpʌblɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Persent101-notary public.wav

Word forms

notary public notaries public notaries publics

Etymology

Anglo-Norman/Law French, on model of notaire publique, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun, instead of idiomatic English *public notary. Compare attorney general, court martial, fee simple, secretary general, surgeon general.

Related words

commissioner of oaths civil law notary Latin notary notary-at-law
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