secrétariat

Forms

secrétariat m (plural secrétariats)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French secrétaire + -at.^[2][3][4] The GLLF calls it a learned derivative.^[5] Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert date it to 1587, the TLFi and the Petit Robert to 1538.^[6][3][2][4] Its base comes from Medieval Latin secretarius.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1538, in a document from Besançon, meaning the office or function of a secrétaire.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1586 Vigenère used it for the bureau or service of a secretary in an administration.^[2][4] It also named the term of office of a secretary (1680) and the whole staff of secretaries of a service (1893).^[7][4] The Grand Robert notes that the word was learned until it spread in the 19th century.^[3] Secrétariat général is found in 1899 in Clemenceau.^[2]

In 1933 it came to mean the trade of a secretary in the modern sense, the clerical work of an office.^[7][4] Secrétariat-greffe (1965) became the new name of the greffe¹ of a court, and télésecrétariat (1990) secretarial work done at a distance.^[7]

Timeline

• 1538 – First record, at Besançon, for the office of a secretary.^[2]
• 1586 – Vigenère uses it for a secretary's office or service.^[2][4]
• 1680 – It means the time during which a secretary holds office.^[4][7]
• 1893 – It names the whole staff of secretaries.^[7]
• 1899 – Secrétariat général is found in Clemenceau.^[2]
• 1933 – It names the trade of a secretary.^[4][7]
• 1965 – Secrétariat-greffe is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The office or post of a secrétaire: secrétariat général.^[4][2][8]
2. (dated) The time during which a secretary holds office.^[4][8]
3. The offices or department run by a secretary or a secretary-general in an administration, an assembly or a company, and the staff working there: adressez-vous au secrétariat.^[4][8][5]
4. The trade of a secretary, secretarial work: école de secrétariat.^[4][5]
5. Secrétariat d'État: the post of a secrétaire d'État, or the services under one.^[2][5]
6. (Catholic Church) The body of the Roman Curia that coordinates and administers its work.^[2]

Word family

• sous-secrétariat
• secrétariat-greffe
• télésecrétariat

Related words

• secrétaire
• secrétairerie
• sous-secrétaire
• Medieval Latin secretarius

Usage notes

Littré notes that the final ⟨t⟩ is not sounded in liaison.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette