apparitor

noun

ap·par·i·tor ə-ˈper-ə-tər

-ˈpa-rə

: an official formerly sent to carry out the orders of a magistrate, judge, or court

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aparitor, apparytour "court officer," borrowed from Medieval Latin appāritor "royal official, attendant," going back to Latin, "attendant on a magistrate, servant, clerk," from appāri-, variant stem of appārēre "to be visible, be evident, attend, serve" + -tor, agent suffix — more at appear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of apparitor was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century