GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Clerk , n. [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr. Gr. κληρικός belonging to the clergy, fr. κλῆρος lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. Clergy.]
   A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster
   All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ.
   Ayliffe.
   
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   A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters. [Obs.] “Every one that could read . . . being accounted a clerk.”
   Blackstone.
   
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   He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe.
   Burke.
   
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   A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it. [Eng.]
   Hook.
   
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   And like unlettered clerk still cry “Amen”.
   Shak.
   
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   One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk.
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   The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill.
   Strype.
   
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   ☞ In some cases, clerk is synonymous with secretary. A clerk is always an officer subordinate to a higher officer, board, corporation, or person; whereas a secretary may be either a subordinate or the head of an office or department.
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   An assistant in a shop or store. [U. S.]
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