̈ɪˈsekrətrɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1 a
person employed by an
individual or in an
office etc. to
assist with correspondence,
keep records,
make appointments, etc. 2 an
official appointed by a
society etc. to
conduct its correspondence, keep its records, etc. 3 (in
the UK) the
principal assistant of a
government minister,
ambassador, etc. øsecretary
bird a long-legged snake-eating
African bird,
Sagittarius serpentarius, with a
crest likened to a
quill pen stuck over a writer's ear. Secretary-General the principal
administrator of an
organization. Secretary of
State 1 (in the UK) the
head of a
major government
department. 2 (in the US) the
chief government official
responsible for foreign affairs. øøsecretarial adj. secretaryship n. [ME f. LL secretarius (as SECRET)]