custos

American  

[kuhs-tos, koos-tohs] / ˈkʌs tɒs, ˈkʊs toʊs /

noun

plural

custodes

1. (italics) a custodian.

2. a superior in the Franciscan order.

---

custos British  

/ ˈkʌstɒs /

noun

1. Also called (in England): guardian.  a superior in the Franciscan religious order

---

Etymology

Origin of custos

1425–75; late Middle English < Medieval Latin

Example Sentences

The Very Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, custos of the Holy Land, will speak about “Struggle and Hope in the Holy Land.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 13, 2015

The lord-lieutenant now usually holds the older office of custos rotulorum, or keeper of the records of the county.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various

Sometimes the nuns themselves begged for a custos to assist them, in terms which show that they found the management of their own finances too much for them.

From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Power, Eileen

A college, dedicated to the Holy Cross, was founded here in the reign of Richard II., by Sir Robert de Mortimer, for a custos and four fellows.

From Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell

In 1834 he was made custos and in 1841 professor of composition in the Academy of Vienna.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various