Added 9 October 2026
secretary
/ˈsɛk.ɹə.tə.ɹi/ noun
In Latin: scrība, librarius, librariolus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about secretary at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A person who is head of an administrative department of government.
- An assistant who handles correspondence and clerical work for a boss or an organization.
- A person to whom a secret is entrusted.
Origin
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”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)