notary public
Featured
Puzzle #7 · June 8, 2025
In Latin, notarius means shorthand writer or clerk. A ‘notary public’ today is an official who can authenticate documents.
The reason we don't say ‘public notary’ is due to French influence where adjectives come after nouns. (It's the same reason we say attorneys general instead of general attorneys for the plural of that expression.)
French was used in English courts for approximately 300 years following the Norman Conquest of 1066. While Anglo-Norman French dominated legal proceedings, government, and the court from 1066 to 1362, the Pleading in English Act 1362 made English the official language of the courts.
The reason we don't say ‘public notary’ is due to French influence where adjectives come after nouns. (It's the same reason we say attorneys general instead of general attorneys for the plural of that expression.)
French was used in English courts for approximately 300 years following the Norman Conquest of 1066. While Anglo-Norman French dominated legal proceedings, government, and the court from 1066 to 1362, the Pleading in English Act 1362 made English the official language of the courts.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression notary public has appeared in 3 puzzles:
- Puzzle #7 on June 8, 2025
- Puzzle #71 on August 11, 2025
- Puzzle #102 on September 11, 2025
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Explore More Expressions
Everyday the Wordcels Puzzle has a featured expression showing meaning, history and connection to culture. Explore them all.
The Wordcels Puzzle
Think you've mastered Americanisms? The two-word phrases, compound words and idiomatic expressions of American English? Each day the Wordcels Puzzle provides 15 words that must be arranged to form 16 expressions. Give it a try.
