Chancellor
/ˈtʃænsələr/noun
A high-ranking official in government, education, or law.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *cancellus* (“lattice, barrier”), because a *cancellarius* worked by the screen separating officials from petitioners—so authority was once tied to a physical barrier.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cancellus
“a lattice, grating, or barrier”
Late Latin
Latin
cancellarius
“an official stationed by a barrier or screen”
Old French
Old French
chancelier
“a chancellor or keeper of records/seals”
Middle English
English
chanceler
“a high official, especially one in charge of a royal seal or records”
Modern English
English
chancellor
“a senior official in government, academia, or the judiciary”