(1) “Book-entry form” means, with respect to public obligations, obligations that are not represented by an instrument but are evidenced and transferred on registration books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the issuer;

(2) “Facsimile seal” means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the seal of the issuer, official or official body;

(3) “Facsimile signature” means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer;

(4) “Financial intermediary” means a bank, broker, or clearing corporation or the nominee of any of them, or other person or nominee which in the ordinary course of its business maintains public obligation accounts for its customers, when so acting;

(5) “Issuer” means any entity, department, or agency which under the laws of this state issues public obligations. “Issuer” may thus include the state of Tennessee, agencies of the state of Tennessee and all political subdivisions and public instrumentalities of the state of Tennessee, including, without limitation, cities, towns, metropolitan governments, counties, authorities, districts, and corporations or other public entities;

(6) “Official” or “official body” means the officer or board that is empowered under the laws of this state to provide for original issuance of a public obligation of the issuer, by defining the obligation and its terms, conditions and other incidents, the successor or successors of any such official or official body, and such other person or group of persons as shall be assigned duties of such official or official body under applicable law from time to time;

(7) “Official actions” means the actions by statute, order, ordinance, charter, resolution, contract, or other authorized means by which the issuer provides for issuance of a public obligation; and

(8) “Public obligation” means an agreement of an issuer to pay principal and any interest thereon, whether in the form of a contract to repay borrowed money, a lease, an installment purchase agreement, or otherwise, and includes a share, participation, or other interest in any such agreement.