secretary

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person who handles letters, phone calls, and office tasks for someone or an organization

   My secretary will schedule the meeting for you.

2. 2
   noun

   a senior government official in charge of a department

   The Secretary of State held a press conference.

3. 3
   noun

   a senior official who runs an organization such as a party or union

   She was elected secretary of the trade union.

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”).

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