sb. and a. [ad. L. bibliothēcārius, -um; see BIBLIOTHECA and -ARY1. Cf. F. bibliothécaire.]
† 1. A library. Obs. [= L. *bibliothēcārium.]
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M., I. 5/1. Taken out of the Popes bibliothecary, a suspected place.
2. A librarian. [= L. bibliothēcārius.]
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 477. Mr. James Gruterus the Princes Bibliothecarie.
1700. in Misc. Cur. (1708), III. 400. Il Signior Abbate Bencini, Bibliothecary of the Propaganda.
B. adj. Of or belonging to a library or librarian.
1820. Blackw. Mag., VIII. 252. These biographical jewels should not lie locked up in a bibliothecary cabinet.
Hence Bibliothecarian a. and sb. = prec.
1685. trans. Bossuet’s Doctr. Cath. Ch., Advt. 7. M. l’Abbe Gradi … Bibliothecarian of the Vatican.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3708/4. Ecclesiastical Historians and Bibliothecarians.
1716. M. Davies, Ath. Brit., III. 92. A third well orderd Bibliothecarian Closet of Medals.
