Main Entry: no·ta·ry public

Pronunciation: \ˈnō-tə-rē-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural notaries public or notary publics

Etymology: Middle English notary clerk, notary public, from Latin notarius clerk, secretary, from notarius of shorthand, from nota note, shorthand character

Date: 15th century

: a public officer who attests or certifies writings (as a deed) to make them authentic and takes affidavits, depositions, and protests of negotiable paper —called also notary