secretary

Etymology

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”).

noun

1. (obsolete) Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.
2. (obsolete) Someone employed as a scribe for personal correspondence.
3. A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.
   I have a personal secretary to help me organize my clients.
   The secretary at the school is in charge of communication between parents, students, and staff.
4. (often capitalized) The head of a department of government.
5. A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.
   Ban Ki-Moon was a secretary general of the United Nations.
6. (US) A type of desk, secretary desk; a secretaire.
7. A secretary bird, a bird of the species Sagittarius serpentarius.

verb

1. (transitive) To serve as a secretary of.