apparitor

apparitor

A Roman magistrate's apparitor delivers a legal scroll.

Definition

Noun: - A court officer: "apparitor" refers to a subordinate official in a civil or ecclesiastical court, historically responsible for serving summonses, executing orders, or performing other administrative duties.

Usage Examples
  • (The court officer carried out the legal notice.)
  • (The official served the ecclesiastical court's rulings.)
Advanced Usage
  • Historical context: In ancient Rome, an "apparitor" was a public servant attached to a magistrate, performing tasks like announcing judgments or managing court records.
    • The Roman apparitor announced the praetor's decision to the gathered crowd. (The official proclaimed the magistrate's ruling.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Apparitors (plural): multiple such officials.
    • The apparitors gathered in the courthouse to receive their assignments. (Several court officers assembled.)
Synonyms
  • Summoner: an officer who issues summonses.
  • Beadle: a minor parish officer in a church.
  • Marshal: a law enforcement officer, especially in a court.
Related Idioms
  • No common idioms are associated with "apparitor," as it is a specialized historical term.
Phrasal Verbs
  • No phrasal verbs are formed with "apparitor," as it is a noun with limited modern use.