Kilo Lingo

le

common

/sə.kʁe.tɛʁ/

Line drawing of secrétaire
Coloured illustration of secrétaire
#1711 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

secretary; also a writing desk

Word origin

From Medieval Latin secretarius ('confidant, one entrusted with secrets'), from Latin secretum ('a secret'). The furniture sense came later, from the desk in which private papers were kept under lock. English 'secretary' has the same origin.

Origin
Medieval Latin
Root
secretarius
English cognates
secretary, secret

Grammar

Gendercommon
Pluralsecrétaires

Examples

rappellera .

The doctor's secretary will call you back tomorrow.

.

Our new secretary speaks three languages.

-.

Ask the secretary to give you an appointment.

.

She keeps her letters in an old wooden writing desk.

l' .

The secretary general signed the agreement this morning.

Where this fits

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French · Free printables

secrétaire: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "secrétaire" (secretary; also a writing desk): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 35.