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

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

From Project Gutenberg

But I’ll lay a Wager, that he will do nothing more than see the Datary and the Rota with a round Sum of Money.

From Project Gutenberg

The Cardinals din’d also together, and their Dinner, which was one of the most sumptuous, is always provided at the Expence of their Eminencies out of certain Monies coming to them from the Rota and the Datary.

From Project Gutenberg

Those five Cardinals were Signior Guadagno, the Pope’s Nephew,116 formerly a barefooted Carmelite; Signior Doria Maestro di Camera, Archbishop of Benevento; Signior Gentili, a Datary, who had been formerly Secretary of the Congregation of the Bishops, and the Regular Clergy, a Post which, tho’ the very next Step to a Cardinal’s Cap, the Pope had made him resign for the Office of a Datary, which is but a mean Commission; Signior Ferrayo, and Signior Bichi, both Nuncios in Portugal.

From Project Gutenberg

Datary, dā′ta-ri, n. an officer in the papal chancery, who dates and despatches documents, grants, &c.—n.

From Project Gutenberg