notary public

Anglo-Norman/Law French, on model of notaire publique, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun, instead of idiomatic English *public notary. Compare attorney general, court martial, fee simple, secretary general, surgeon general.

• IPA^(key): /ˈnəʊtəɹi ˈpʌblɪk/

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notary public (plural notaries public or (rare) notaries publics)

1. (law) An officer who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents and perform certain other acts varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

• commissioner of oaths
• civil law notary
• Latin notary
• notary-at-law

• notary public on Wikipedia.Wikipedia