from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Notary \No"ta*ry\, n.; pl. {Notaries}. [F. notaire, L. notarius
notary (in sense 1), fr. nota mark. See 5th {Note}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. One who records in shorthand what is said or done; as, the
notary of an ecclesiastical body.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Eng. & Am. Law) A public officer who attests or certifies
deeds and other writings, or copies of them, usually under
his official seal, to make them authentic, especially in
foreign countries. His duties chiefly relate to
instruments used in commercial transactions, such as
protests of negotiable paper, ship's papers in cases of
loss, damage, etc. He is generally called a {notary
public}.
[1913 Webster]