noun · masculinesecond declension
prīmicērius
prīmicērius m (genitive prīmicēriī)
Meaning
- post Classicalhead of an administrative or military department, chief
Idem Iohannes presbyter et primicerius notariorum reliqua gestorum legit.
The same John, presbyter and chief notary, read the remainder of the acts.449, Gesta Synodi Ephesenae [Acts of the Second Council of Ephesus], published 1932, section 66:
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | prīmicērius | prīmicēriī |
| genitive | prīmicēriī | prīmicēriōrum |
| dative | prīmicēriō | prīmicēriīs |
| accusative | prīmicērium | prīmicēriōs |
| ablative | prīmicēriō | prīmicēriīs |
| vocative | prīmicērie | prīmicēriī |
prīmĭcērĭus, ii, m. primus - cera; whose name stands first on the wax-coated tablets; hence,
I. the first among those holding a similar office, a chief, head, superintendent (post-class.):
primicerius in officio Praefectorum Praetorio, Veg. Mil. 2, 21: protectorum, of the guard, Amm. 18, 3, 5: notariorum, the chancellor or chief of the secretaries, Cod. Th. 11, 18, 1: sacri cubiculi, the head-chamberlain, Cod. Just. 12, 28, 1 et saep.Origins
prīmus (“first”) + cēra (“wax”) + -ius, i.e. one whose name is written first on a wax tablet
Descendants
- Catalanprimicer
- Frenchprimicier
- Frenchprimicère
- Italianprimicerio
- Portugueseprimicério
- Byzantine Greekπριμικήριος
- Malteseperċimes