apparitor

American  

[uh-par-i-ter] / əˈpær ɪ tər /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) a subordinate official of a magistrate or of the court.

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apparitor British  

/ əˈpærɪtə /

noun

1. an officer who summons witnesses and executes the orders of an ecclesiastical and (formerly) a civil court

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Etymology

Origin of apparitor

1250–1300; Middle English apparitour < Latin appāritor, equivalent to appāri- (variant stem of appārēre to serve, attend, literally, to be seen; see appear) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The devil, amazed and disgusted at laws which "excell the paines of hell," turns to go, whereupon the apparitor seeks to arrest and fine him for traveling on the Sabbath.

From The Elizabethan Parish in its Ecclesiastical and Financial Aspects by Ware, Sedley Lynch

A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites or bids persons to appear and answer; Ð called also an apparitor or summoner.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

In later times he became known as the apparitor.

From The Canterbury Puzzles And Other Curious Problems by Dudeney, Henry Ernest

Jeremy Stickles is my name, lad, nothing more than a poor apparitor of the worshipful Court of King's Bench.

From Lorna Doone A Romance of Exmoor by Blackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)

Every advocate and apparitor had to own such a calendar.

From Pan Tadeusz Or, the Last Foray in Lithuania; a Story of Life Among Polish Gentlefolk in the Years 1811 and 1812 by Noyes, George Rapall