noun
- A register or record book containing copies of documents, charters, or deeds, especially those relating to the property and rights of a monastery, church, or other institution.
Usage: historical; often used in medieval and ecclesiastical contexts
Examples
- The monastery's cartulary contained detailed records of all land donations made over three centuries.
- Historians consulted the cathedral's cartulary to verify the authenticity of the medieval charter.
- The cartulary served as the primary legal document proving the abbey's ownership of the estate.
- Medieval cartularies were carefully maintained by scribes to preserve important institutional records.
- The newly discovered cartulary provided valuable evidence about property rights in Norman England.