What does secretaire mean?
Secretaire is a rare historical English noun meaning a secretary, with its best-known specialized use referring to the secretary bird. In older zoological texts, it serves as an alternative name or spelling rather than the usual modern English term “secretary.” The word also appears in the older general sense of a person responsible for correspondence, record-keeping, or clerical work. It is not normally encountered in contemporary speech, and dictionaries tend to treat it as archaic or chiefly historical. The spelling reflects the word’s borrowing from French, where “secrétaire” retains an ending resembling “-taire,” while modern English generally uses “secretary.” Because the established modern term is much more familiar, “secretaire” is now mainly encountered in older books and specialist references to the bird.
nounA rare historical English noun for a secretary, especially the secretary bird. It is principally encountered in older zoological and general literature.
- A secretary, especially a secretary bird.
- A person whose role was to write letters, keep records, or perform related clerical work.
"The secretaire stood motionless in the tall grass, its crest and long legs characteristic of the secretary bird."
"In zoological books of the nineteenth century, the secretaire was described as a large African bird of prey."
"The secretaire copied the correspondence and maintained the household records."
The plural follows ordinary English rules, although the word itself is rare.
"The book describes two secretoires found in southern Africa."
This old English form preserves the French-looking ending “-taire,” while the modern word “secretary” has settled on “-ary.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does secretaire come from?
The English word comes from French “secrétaire,” originally used for a secretary or person entrusted with confidential matters. French in turn borrowed the word from Late Latin “secretarius,” a derivative of “secretum,” meaning something concealed or private. The same Latin foundation also produced English “secretary,” as well as related forms such as “secretarial” and “secretariat.”
How secretaire is actually used
The word is obsolete or very uncommon in modern English. Its surviving sense is chiefly associated with zoological writing, particularly references to the secretary bird.
Easily confused with secretaire
“Secretaire” is a rare historical form associated especially with the secretary bird, whereas “secretary” is the standard modern English spelling.