Having been officially witnessed and verified by a notary public, giving legal authenticity to a document.
From 'notary,' derived from Latin 'notarius' (a shorthand writer or secretary). The term evolved from ancient Rome where notaries recorded official documents using special shorthand symbols.
Roman notaries invented shorthand symbols so they could write faster than regular handwriting—they were the first speed-writers. That's why notary seals still feel so official; they're carrying on a 2,000-year tradition of authorized record-keepers.
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