apocrisiarius

noun

ap·​o·​cri·​si·​ar·​i·​us
ˌapəˌkriz(h)ēˈa(a)rēəs
variants or less commonly apocrisiary
-ˈkriz(h)ēˌerē,
-zhərē
plural apocrisiarii
-a(a)rēˌī,
-rēˌē
or apocrisiaries
: a plenipotentiary delegate formerly representing a power and residing at a foreign capital
especially : a papal nuncio serving at the imperial court in Constantinople during the early centuries of the medieval era

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin apocrisiarius, apocrisarius, from Late Greek apokrisis message (from Greek, answer, from apokrinesthai to answer—from apokrinein to separate, choose, from apo- + krinein to separate, distinguish, decide— + -sis) + Latin -arius -ary

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Dictionary Entries Near apocrisiarius

Cite this Entry

“Apocrisiarius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocrisiarius. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

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