clerk

n. [ Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr. Gr. klhriko`s belonging to the clergy, fr. klh^ros lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. Clergy. ] 1. A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it. [ Eng. ] Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

And like unlettered clerk still cry “Amen”. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An assistant in a shop or store. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]