secretary

Main Entry:: sec·re·tary
Pronunciation:: \ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē, ˈse-kə-ˌter-, in rapid speech also ˈsek-ˌter-, especially British ˈse-k(r)ə-trē\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural sec·re·tar·ies
Etymology:: Middle English secretarie, from Medieval Latin secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, from Latin secretum secret, from neuter of secretus
Date:: 15th century

1: one employed to handle correspondence and manage routine and detail work for a superior2 a: an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's legal interests b: an officer of an organization or society responsible for its records and correspondence3: an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department <the secretary of labor>4 a: writing desk, escritoire b: a writing desk with a top section for books

— sec·re·tar·i·al

\ˌse-krə-ˈter-ē-əl\ adjective

— sec·re·tary·ship

\ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē-ˌship\ noun

[secretary illustration]

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