Where does “clerk” come from?
Clerk comes from Middle English clerc, from Old English clerc, from Late Latin clericus, from Ancient Greek κληρικός, from Ancient Greek κλῆρος meaning lot or allotment, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kola-.
clerk (English): One who occupationally works with records,...
Definitions
- One who occupationally works with records,...
Ancestry of “clerk”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | clerc | a clergyman, usually in Christianity |
| 2 | Old English | clerc | clergyman, clerk |
| 3 | Latin | clēricus | a priest, clergyman or clergywoman, cleric |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κληρικός | of or pertaining to clergy; clerical; clergyman |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |