Clerk
Clerk (klẽrk; in Eng. klark; 277) , noun
[Either Old French clerc, from Latin clericus a priest, or Anglo-Saxon clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, from Latin clericus, from Greek klhriko`s belonging to the clergy, from klh^ros lot, allotment, clergy; compare Deut. xviii. 2. Compare Clergy.]
1.
A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Obsolete]
All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ.
2.
A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters. [Obsolete]
Every one that could read... being accounted a clerk.
He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe.
3.
A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it. [English] — Hook
And like unlettered clerk still cry “Amen”.
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.
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. [United States]