Clerk [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr. Gr. belonging to the clergy, fr. lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. Clergy.]
1.
A clergyman or ecclesiastic.
[Obs.]
All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ.
Ayliffe.
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.
He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe.
Burke.
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.
And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen".
Shak.
4.
One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk.
The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill.
Strype.
⇒ 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.
5.
An assistant in a shop or store.
[U. S.]
© Webster 1913.