secretary

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.

   I have a personal secretary to help me organize my clients.

2. 2
   noun

   The head of a department of government.

   Well briefly, sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary.

3. 3
   noun

   A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.

   Ban Ki-Moon was a secretary general of the United Nations.

4. 4
   noun

   Someone employed as a scribe for personal correspondence.

   "Do not give yourself any uneasiness about one so utterly unworthy of a thought! Sir George Kingston is without one grain of either honour or real feeling! The fact is, I have, for some months past, been his secretary, and wrote for him the letters which were sent you!"

5. 5
   noun

   a desk used for writing

6. 6
   noun

   a person to whom a secret is entrusted

7. 7
   noun

   an assistant who handles correspondence and clerical work for a boss or an organization

8. 8
   noun

   a person who is head of an administrative department of government

Etymology

From Medieval Latin secrētārius (“one entrusted with secrets”), from Latin secrētus (“private, secret”), past participle of secernere (“to separate, set apart”), from se- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”).