Clerk
/klɜːrk/noun
A person employed in an office or organization to keep records and to do other routine administrative duties.
Did you know?In medieval times, clerks were often the only literate individuals in their communities, wielding knowledge like magic and acting as the gatekeepers of information and contracts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*klē-
“to call, cry out, or shout, implying a role in communication or declaration.”
Latin
Latin
clericus
“a cleric or clergyman, referring to a person of the church or religious order.”
Old French
Old French
clerc
“a learned person or scholar, particularly one involved in religious or administrative matters.”
Middle English
Middle English
clerke
“a person versed in the Scriptures, later evolving to denote any office worker or record keeper.”
Modern English
Modern English
clerk
“an individual employed in an office for administrative purposes, retaining the connotation of a learned person.”