Clerk

Pronunciation

• AusE IPA: /klaːk/Homophone: Clark
• AusE IPA: /klɝːk/
• UK IPA: /klɑːk/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)kHomophone: Clark
• US enPR: klerk, IPA: /klɝk/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k

Origin

From Middle English clerc, from Old English clerc, from Late Latin clēricus ("a priest, clergyman, cleric, also generally a learned man, clerk"), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikos, "(adj. in church jargon) of the clergy"), from κλῆρος (klēros, "lot, inheritance,” originally “a shard used in casting lots").

Full definition of clerk

Noun

1. One who occupationally works with records, accounts, letters, etc.; an office worker.
• 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate Chapter Prologue, Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
2. A facilitator of a Quaker meeting for business affairs.
3. (archaic) In the Church of England, the layman that assists in the church service, especially in reading the responses (also called parish clerk).
• 1595, William Shakespeare, , act 4 scene 1God save the King! Will no man say, amen?
  Am I both priest and clerk? Well then, amen.

Related terms

• clergy
• clergyman
• cleric
• clerical

Verb

1. To act as a clerk, to perform the duties or functions of a clerkThe law school graduate clerked for the supreme court judge for the summer.