proctor

[prok-ter]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR proctor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person appointed to keep watch over students at examinations.

an official charged with various duties, especially with the maintenance of good order.

verb (used with or without object)

to supervise or monitor.

Origin of proctor

1350–1400; Middle English; contracted variant of procurator

Related formsproc·to·ri·al

[prok-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-] /prɒkˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjectiveproc·to·ri·al·ly, adverbproc·tor·ship, nounsub·proc·tor, nounsub·proc·to·ri·al, adjectivesub·proc·tor·ship, nounun·proc·tored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for proctor

delegate, supervisor, minister, agent, representative, supervise, monitor

Examples from the Web for proctor

Contemporary Examples of proctor

“Blackness is another issue entirely apart from class in America,” Proctor said.
An Open Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder: It’s Not About Race
Ron Christie
July 17, 2014
His ex-wife and high school sweetheart, Evelyn, told the Associated Press that Proctor was “a very loving, caring, gentle person.”
Remembering the Navy Yard Victims
Nina Strochlic
September 17, 2013
Here she is being promoted on Twitter by Proctor & Gamble, one of her many sponsors.
New York Times Attack on Olympic Athlete Lolo Jones Unfounded and Unfair
David Roth
August 7, 2012
Defiantly, I handed back the answer key to the proctor and proceeded to take the exam on my own.
Nuclear Sub Cheating Scandal
Christopher Brownfield
September 22, 2010

Historical Examples of proctor

He ducked a proctor in a water-butt and the dons were very cross about it.
Changing Winds
St. John G. Ervine
To explain his hurried departure, Proctor told what called him away.
Barrington
Charles James Lever
"Her maid has just seen you, sir," suggested Proctor, mildly.
The Daltons, Volume I (of II)
Charles James Lever
Yet Mr Proctor was not lulled into incaution by this seeming calm.
The Rector
Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
She did not look very ill to Mr Proctor's inexperienced eyes.
The Rector
Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

British Dictionary definitions for proctor

proctor

noun

a member of the teaching staff of any of certain universities having the duties of enforcing discipline

US (in a college or university) a supervisor or monitor who invigilates examinations, enforces discipline, etc

(formerly) an agent, esp one engaged to conduct another's case in a court

(formerly) an agent employed to collect tithes

Church of England one of the elected representatives of the clergy in Convocation and the General Synod

verb

(tr) US to invigilate (an examination)

Derived Formsproctorial (prɒkˈtɔːrɪəl), adjectiveproctorially, adverb

Word Origin for proctor

C14: syncopated variant of procurator

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for proctor

late 14c., contraction of procurator (c.1300) "steward or manager of a household;" also "a provider" (see procurator). From late 14c. as "one who acts or speaks for another; spokesman, advocate;" early 15c. as "business manager or financial administrator of a church, college, holy order, etc."

1670s, from proctor (n.). Related: Proctored; proctoring.