Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

secretaire

noun
sec·​re·​taire | \ ¦sekrə¦ta(a)|(ə)r, -te|, |ə\
plural -s

Definition of secretaire

: escritoire, secretary

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for secretaire

French secrétaire escritoire, secretary (person), from Middle French secretaire secretary (person), confidant, from Old French, confidant, from Medieval Latin secretarius

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about secretaire

Share secretaire

Statistics for secretaire

Look-up Popularity

Comments on secretaire

What made you want to look up secretaire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

decoct

Listen to the pronounciation of decoct

to boil down or concentrate

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games