Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-POC'RI-SA-RY, n. [Gr. from αποκρισις, answer; αποκρινομαι, to answer.]

Anciently a resident in an imperial city, in the name of a foreign church or bishop, answering to the modern nuncio. He was a proctor, in the emperor's court, to negotiate, and transact business for his constituent. – Encyc. Spelman.