-s(ə)lə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chanceler, from Old French chancelier, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, secretary, from cancellus lattice, from Latin cancelli
1.
a. obsolete : a secretary especially of a nobleman, prince, or king ; specifically : the chief secretary of the king of England
b. : the lord chancellor of Great Britain
c. : an official especially in England who keeps a record of proceedings and does other official acts in a chapter of an order of knighthood
d. : one of four chief dignitaries of Anglican cathedrals of the old foundation some of whose duties are to arrange services, to lecture in theology, and to keep the books
e. : chartophylax
f. Britain : the chief secretary of an embassy
g. : a Roman Catholic priest in the United States appointed by a bishop to take charge of a chancery
h. : an officer in some fraternal or sororal orders having any of varying duties, responsibilities, or privileges
2. : a university officer of high rank:
a. : the titular head of a British university
b. : president
c. : the chief executive officer of some state systems of higher education
d. : an officer in charge of a certain branch or certain administrative functions of a university
3.
a. : a clerical or lay law officer of a bishop or diocese in the Church of England or Protestant Episcopal Church who acts for a bishop especially in cases relating to ecclesiastical law
b. : a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the United States ; specifically : the presiding judge in such a court as distinguished from the vice-chancellors
4. : the chief minister of state in any of certain European countries who is charged with responsibilities corresponding to those of a prime minister
5. : the foreman of a jury in Scotland