Notary
/ΛnoΚ.tΙ.ri/noun
A person authorized to witness signatures and certify documents.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin notarius, a scribe or shorthand writer, from nota meaning a 'mark' or 'sign' β so its deepest root is the power of a mark to make something count.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gnΕ-
βto knowβ
Latin
Latin
notus
βknown, recognizedβ
Latin
Latin
nota
βa mark, sign, noteβ
Late Latin
Latin
notarius
βa shorthand writer, secretaryβ
Old French
Old French
notaire
βa notary, legal clerkβ
Middle English
English
notarie
βa notary or scrivenerβ
Modern English
English
notary
βa public officer who witnesses and certifies documentsβ