referendary

English

Etymology

From Latin referendarius, from Latin referendus (“to be referred”), gerundive of referre. Compare French référendaire. See refer.

Noun

referendary (plural referendaries)

1. (obsolete) One to whose decision a cause is referred; a referee.
   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Suitors”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:

     let him choose well his referendaries , for else he may be led by the nose

2. (historical) An officer who delivered the royal answer to petitions.
   • 1941, The Cambridge Historical Journal:

     In the writs of Merovingian kings , the king normally signed his name first , and his referendary followed

   • 1992, P. S. Barnwell, Emperor, Prefects & Kings: The Roman West:

     referendaries were involved in the presentation of petitions to the king

3. (obsolete) An officer of state charged with the duty of procuring and dispatching diplomas and decrees.

References

“referendary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.