Q.Who is a Secretary? Give a general definition.

The word 'secretary' comes from the Latin secretarius, meaning one entrusted with confidential matters — the modern meaning has grown from this into a broader administrative and coordinating role.

Origin of the term. The word 'secretary' derives from the Latin secretarius ('one entrusted with secrets') and secretum ('a secret'). Historically, a secretary was a confidential assistant handling a person's private papers and correspondence.

Modern meaning. In present-day usage — across personal employment, clubs, co-operative societies, government departments, and companies — a Secretary is an official appointed to: (1) conduct correspondence, incoming and outgoing, on behalf of the person or body they serve; (2) keep records, registers, and minutes; (3) manage day-to-day administrative business; and (4) act as a communication link between the head/governing body and its members, staff, or outside parties.

A working definition. Putting these features together: a Secretary is an official appointed to conduct the correspondence, keep the records, and manage the day-to-day administrative business of an individual, association, institution, or company, acting throughout as a link between the persons or bodies concerned.

Why the definition stays general. The exact scope, qualification, and legal standing of the office differ sharply by type — from an unregulated personal secretary to a strictly regulated Company Secretary — which is why the rest of this chapter examines each type separately.

Students often define 'Secretary' only in terms of a Company Secretary and forget the general, board-applicable definition the syllabus asks for first — always start with the general meaning before narrowing to any one type.