Wordwyrt

clerk

/kˈlɜːk/KLURK
/kˈlɝk/KLURK

Meaninga cleric; a writer

Common meaning: an office worker keeping records

Journey through time

  1. Greekκλῆρος‘a lot’
  2. Latinclericus
  3. Middle Englishclercsource
  4. Englishclerk‘an office worker keeping records’ · today

cler also in: clergyclerical

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Greek κλῆρος ‘a lot; a share given by lot’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry κλῆρος, p. 814 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

clergyclerical

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