[sec.re.tary] n, pl -tar.ies [ME secretarie, fr. ML secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, fr. L secretum secret, fr. neut. of secretus] (15c) 1: one employed to handle correspondence and manage routine and detail work for a superior
2. a: an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's legal interests b: an officer of an organization or society responsible for its records and correspondence
3: an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department
4. a: writing desk, escritoire b: a writing desk with a top section for books -- sec.re.tar.i.al adj -- sec.re.tary.ship n