clerk

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

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.].

•  A clergyman or ecclesiastic.  [1913 Webster]

  "All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ."  [1913 Webster]
•  A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters.  Blackstone.  [1913 Webster]

  "He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe."  [1913 Webster]
•  A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it.  Hook.  [1913 Webster]

  "And like unlettered clerk still cry “Amen”."  [1913 Webster]
•  One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk.  [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]

  "The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill."  [1913 Webster]
•  An assistant in a shop or store.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

clerk, n. & v.
--n.
1 a person employed in an office, bank, shop, etc., to keep records, accounts, etc.
2 a secretary, agent, or record-keeper of a local council (town clerk), court, etc.
3 a lay officer of a church (parish clerk), college chapel, etc.
4 a senior official in Parliament.
5 US an assistant in a shop or hotel.
6 archaic a clergyman.
--v.intr. work as a clerk.

Idiom

clerk in holy orders formal a clergyman. clerk of the course the judges' secretary etc. in horse or motor racing. clerk of the works (or of works) an overseer of building works etc.

Derivative

clerkdom n. clerkess n. Sc. clerkish adj. clerkly adj. clerkship n.

Etymology

OE cleric, clerc, & OF clerc, f. eccl.L clericus CLERIC

THESAURUS

clerk

Bible clerk, Bible reader, CA, CPA, DD, Doctor of Divinity, Federal, Holy Joe, abbe, academician, accountant, accountant general, acolyte, actuary, agent, almoner, amanuensis, anagnost, archivist, auditor, baggage agent, bank accountant, bank examiner, beadle, bedral, bookkeeper, bookman, business agent, calculator, calligrapher, capitular, capitulary, certified public accountant, chaplain, chartered accountant, chirographer, choir chaplain, churchman, churchwarden, claim agent, classicist, clergyman, cleric, clerical, colossus of knowledge, commercial agent, commission agent, comptroller, consignee, controller, copier, copyist, cost accountant, cost keeper, curate, cure, customer agent, deacon, deaconess, divine, documentalist, dupe, ecclesiastic, elder, elderman, engraver, factor, fed, federal agent, filing clerk, floorwalker, freight agent, functionary, general agent, genius, giant of learning, humanist, implement, ink spiller, inkslinger, instrument, insurance agent, journalizer, land agent, law agent, lay elder, lay reader, learned clerk, learned man, lector, lecturer, letterer, librarian, literary agent, literary man, litterateur, loan agent, lover of learning, man of God, man of learning, man of letters, marker, mastermind, military chaplain, mine of information, minister, news agent, notary, notary public, official, padre, parish clerk, parliamentary agent, parson, passenger agent, pastor, pen, pencil driver, penman, penner, philologist, philologue, philomath, philosophe, philosopher, polyhistor, polymath, preacher, precentor, press agent, prothonotary, pundit, puppet, purchasing agent, reader, real estate agent, reckoner, record clerk, recorder, recording secretary, recordist, rector, register, registrar, reverend, ruling elder, sacrist, sacristan, sales agent, sales engineer, sales force, sales manager, sales personnel, salesclerk, salesgirl, saleslady, salesman, salespeople, salesperson, saleswoman, savant, scalper, scholar, scholastic, schoolman, scorekeeper, scorer, scribbler, scribe, scrivener, secretary, seller, selling agent, servant of God, sexton, shames, shepherd, shop assistant, shop clerk, sidesman, sky pilot, special agent, station agent, stenographer, steward, stonecutter, store clerk, student, succentor, suisse, supply clergy, supply minister, teaching elder, the Reverend, the very Reverend, theatrical agent, thurifer, ticket agent, ticket scalper, timekeeper, tonsured cleric, tool, transcriber, travel agent, verger, vergeress, walking delegate, walking encyclopedia, word-slinger, writer

ROGET THESAURUS

clerk

Writing

N writing, chirography, stelography, cerography, penmanship, craftmanship, quill driving, typewriting, writing, manuscript, MS, literae scriptae, these presents, stroke of the pen, dash of the pen, coupe de plume, line, headline, pen and ink, letter, uncial writing, cuneiform character, arrowhead, Ogham, Runes, hieroglyphic, contraction, Brahmi, Devanagari, Nagari, script, shorthand, stenography, brachygraphy, tachygraphy, secret writing, writing in cipher, cryptography, stenography, phonography, pasigraphy, Polygraphy, logography, copy, transcript, rescript, rough copy, fair copy, handwriting, signature, sign manual, autograph, monograph, holograph, hand, fist, calligraphy, good hand, running hand, flowing hand, cursive hand, legible hand, bold hand, cacography, griffonage, barbouillage, bad hand, cramped hand, crabbed hand, illegible hand, scribble, pattes de mouche, ill-formed letters, pothooks and hangers, stationery, pen, quill, goose quill, pencil, style, paper, foolscap, parchment, vellum, papyrus, tablet, slate, marble, pillar, table, blackboard, ink bottle, ink horn, ink pot, ink stand, ink well, typewriter, transcription, inscription, superscription, graphology, composition, authorship, cacoethes scribendi, graphoidea, graphomania, phrenoia, writer, scribe, amanuensis, scrivener, secretary, clerk, penman, copyist, transcriber, quill driver, stenographer, typewriter, typist, writer for the press, writing, written, in writing, in black and white, under one's hand, uncial, Runic, cuneiform, hieroglyphical, currente calamo, pen in hand, audacter et sincere, le style est l'homme meme, nature's noblest gift - my gray goose quill, scribendi recte sapere et principium et fons, that mighty instrument of little men, the pen became a clarion.

Auxiliary

N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.

Servant

N servant, subject, liegeman, servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache, official, retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court, attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel, footboy, train bearer, cup bearer, waiter, lapster, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre, equerry, groom, jockey, hostler, ostler, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie, herdsman, swineherd, barkeeper, bartender, bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper, khansamah, khansaman, khitmutgar, yardman, bailiff, castellan, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo, groom of the chambers, secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, clerk, subsidiary, agent, subaltern, underling, understrapper, man, maid, maidservant, handmaid, confidente, lady's maid, abigail, soubrette, amah, biddy, nurse, bonne, ayah, nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid, femme de chambre, femme fille, camarista, chef de cuisine, cordon bleu, cook, scullion, Cinderella, potwalloper, maid of all work, servant of all work, laundress, bedmaker, journeyman, charwoman, bearer, chokra, gyp (Cambridge), hamal, scout (Oxford), serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot, bondsman, bondswoman, bondslave, ame damnee, odalisque, ryot, adscriptus gleboe, villian, villein, beadsman, bedesman, sizar, pensioner, pensionary, client, dependant, dependent, hanger on, satellite, parasite, led captain, protege, ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature, badge of slavery, bonds, in the train of, in one's pay, in one's employ, at one's call, in bonds.

Consignee

N consignee, trustee, nominee, committee, agent, delegate, commissary, commissioner, emissary, envoy, commissionaire, messenger, diplomatist, diplomat, diplomate, corps diplomatique, embassy, ambassador, embassador, representative, resident, consul, legate, nuncio, internuncio, charge d'affaires, attache, vicegerent, plenipotentiary, functionary, placeman, curator, treasurer, factor, bailiff, clerk, secretary, attorney, advocate, solicitor, proctor, broker, underwriter, commission agent, auctioneer, one's man of business, factotum, caretaker, dalal, dubash, garnishee, gomashta, negotiator, go-between, middleman, under agent, employe, servant, referee, arbitrator, traveler, bagman, commis-voyageur, touter, commercial traveler, drummer, traveling man, newspaper correspondent, own correspondent, special correspondent.

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.

Scholar

N scholar, connoisseur, savant, pundit, schoolman, professor, graduate, wrangler, academician, academist, master of arts, doctor, licentitate, gownsman, philosopher, master of math, scientist, clerk, sophist, sophister, linguist, glossolinguist, philologist, philologer, lexicographer, glossographer, grammarian, litterateur, literati, dilettanti, illuminati, cogniscenti, fellow, Hebraist, lexicologist, mullah, munshi, Sanskritish, sinologist, sinologue, Mezzofanti, admirable Crichton, Mecaenas, bookworm, helluo librorum, bibliophile, bibliomaniac, bluestocking, bas-bleu, bigwig, learned Theban, don, Artium Baccalaureus, Artium Magister, learned man, literary man, homo multarum literarum, man of learning, man of letters, man of education, man of genius, antiquarian, antiquary, archaeologist, sage, pedant, doctrinaire, pedagogue, Dr, Pangloss, pantologist, criminologist, schoolboy, learned, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, he was a scholar and a ripe and good one, the manifold linguist.

Recorder

N recorder, notary, clerk, registrar, registrary, register, prothonotary, amanuensis, secretary, scribe, babu, remembrancer, bookkeeper, custos rotulorum, Master of the Rolls, annalist, historian, historiographer, chronicler, journalist, biographer, antiquary, memorialist, interviewer.