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 superior
2 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 correspondence
3 : 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]