secretary

Meanings

Noun

• Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.
• A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.
• 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.
• A type of desk, secretary desk; a secretaire.
• A secretary bird, a bird of the species Sagittarius serpentarius.

Verb

• To serve as a secretary of.

Origin

• From Medieval Latin secrētārius, from Latin secrētus, past participle of secerno, from se- + cerno.