Clerk (kl&etilde;rk; in Eng. klńrk; 277), 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.]
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.
&fist; 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.