secretary
UK: /ˈsek.rə.tər.i/ | US: /ˈsek.rə.ter.i/
n. a person employed to handle correspondence, manage schedules, and assist with administrative tasks
n. an official in charge of a governmental department (e.g., Secretary of State)
n. a writing desk with compartments for storing documents (archaic)
The word "secretary" traces back to Late Latin secretarius, meaning "confidential officer," derived from secretum (secret). The morpheme "secret" reflects the role's historical association with handling confidential matters, while "-ary" (from Latin -arius) denotes a person connected to a function. Over time, the term expanded from trusted advisors to modern administrative professionals, retaining its core link to discretion and organization.
The secretary scheduled all meetings for the upcoming week.
She works as a legal secretary at a prestigious law firm.
The Secretary of Defense addressed the press conference.
In the 18th century, a secretary often referred to a elegant writing desk.
He hired a bilingual secretary to manage international correspondence.