datary

[ dey-tuh-ree ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural da·ta·ries.

1. the office of the Curia Romana that investigates candidates for papal benefices.
2. the cardinal who heads this office.

datary

/ ˈdeɪtərɪ /

noun

1. RC Church the head of the dataria ( deɪˈtɛərɪə ), the papal office that assesses candidates for benefices reserved to the Holy See

Other Words From

• sub·data·ry noun plural subdataries

Word History and Origins

Origin of datary¹

1520–30; < Medieval Latin *datāria the office (where documents were dated); datārius the officer (who gave the dates), equivalent to Late Latin dat ( a ) date ¹ + Latin -āria, -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of datary¹

C16: from Medieval Latin datārius official who dated papal letters, from Late Latin data date ¹

Example Sentences

The Datary has asserted that he meant he should be master over Charlemagne.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pope and his Datary refused to interfere in this ignoble quarrel.

From Project Gutenberg

Man′datary, Man′datory, one to whom a mandate is given by a Man′dator.

From Project Gutenberg