proxy |ˈpräksē| noun (pl. proxies)

1 the authority to represent someone else, esp. in voting: they may register to vote by proxy.

• a person authorized to act on behalf of another.

• a document authorizing a person to vote on another's behalf.

2 a figure that can be used to represent the value of something in a calculation: the use of a US wealth measure as a proxy for the true worldwide measure.

ORIGIN late Middle English: contraction of procuracy.

procuracy |ˈpräkyo͝orǝsē| noun (pl. procuracies)

the position or office of a procurator.

procurator |ˈpräkyəˌrātər| noun Law

an agent representing others in a court of law in countries retaining Roman civil law.

• historical a treasury officer in a province of the Roman Empire.

DERIVATIVES procuratorial |ˌpräkyərəˈtôrēəl| adjective. procuratorship noun

ORIGIN Middle English (denoting a steward): from Old French procuratour or Latin procurator ‘administrator, agent,’ from procurat- ‘taken care of,’ from the verb procurare (see procure) .