Library / English Dictionary

PROCTOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who supervises (an examination)

Synonyms:

monitor; proctor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("proctor" is a kind of...):

supervisor (one who supervises or has charge and direction of)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proctor"):

invigilator (someone who watches examination candidates to prevent cheating)

Derivation:

proctor (watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating))

proctorship (the position of proctor)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating)

Synonyms:

invigilate; proctor

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "proctor" is one way to...):

follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over (follow with the eyes or the mind)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

proctor (someone who supervises (an examination))

Credits

 Context examples: 

There was a good deal of competition in the Commons on all points of display, and it turned out some very choice equipages then; though I always have considered, and always shall consider, that in my time the great article of competition there was starch: which I think was worn among the proctors to as great an extent as it is in the nature of man to bear.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

We achieved the rest of our journey pleasantly, sometimes recurring to Doctors' Commons, and anticipating the distant days when I should be a proctor there, which Steerforth pictured in a variety of humorous and whimsical lights, that made us both merry.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The proctors employ the advocates.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Any one of these scouts used to think nothing of politely assisting an old lady in black out of a vehicle, killing any proctor whom she inquired for, representing his employer as the lawful successor and representative of that proctor, and bearing the old lady off (sometimes greatly affected) to his employer's office.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Among this correspondence, there dropped in, every now and then, an obliging proposal from one of the numerous outsiders always lurking about the Commons, to practise under cover of my name (if I would take the necessary steps remaining to make a proctor of myself), and pay me a percentage on the profits.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I made allowance for Steerforth's light way of treating the subject, and, considering it with reference to the staid air of gravity and antiquity which I associated with that lazy old nook near St. Paul's Churchyard, did not feel indisposed towards my aunt's suggestion; which she left to my free decision, making no scruple of telling me that it had occurred to her, on her lately visiting her own proctor in Doctors' Commons for the purpose of settling her will in my favour.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

However, we got him excommunicated for six weeks, and sentenced in no end of costs; and then the baker's proctor, and the judge, and the advocates on both sides (who were all nearly related), went out of town together, and Mr. Spenlow and I drove away in the phaeton.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The last time I was in the Commons, a civil able-bodied person in a white apron pounced out upon me from a doorway, and whispering the word Marriage-licence in my ear, was with great difficulty prevented from taking me up in his arms and lifting me into a proctor's.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There were a number of hangers-on and outsiders about the Commons, who, without being proctors themselves, dabbled in common-form business, and got it done by real proctors, who lent their names in consideration of a share in the spoil;—and there were a good many of these too.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)