What is "mandatary"

Mandatary \Man"da*ta*ry\, n. [L. mandatarius, fr. mandatum a charge, commission, order: cf. F. mandataire. See Mandate.]

1. One to whom a command or charge is given; hence, specifically, a person to whom the pope has, by his prerogative, given a mandate or order for his benefice.
   --Ayliffe.

2. (Law) One who undertakes to discharge a specific business commission; a mandatory.
   --Wharton.

"person to whom a mandate has been given," 1610s, from Latin mandatarius "one to whom a charge or commission has been given," from mandatus, past participle of mandare (see mandate (n.)).

n. One who receives a mandate.

n. the recipient of a mandate [syn: mandatory]