Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Medieval Latin secretarius (“one entrusted with secrets”), from Latin secretus (“private, secret”), past participle of secernere (“to separate, set apart”), from se- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”).
secretary (plural secretaries)
- (obsolete) Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.
- A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.
- (often capitalized) The head of a department of government.
- A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.
- Ban Ki-Moon is the current secretary general of the United Nations.
- (US) A type of desk, secretary desk; a secretaire.
- A secretary bird, a bird of the species Sagittarius serpentarius.
person keeping records and handling clerical work
head of a department of government
leading or managerial position in certain organizations
type of desk
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Translations to be checked
- (transitive) To serve as a secretary of.
- For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.