Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLERK, n. [Sax. cleric, clerc, clere; L. clericus; Gr. κληρικος. See Clergy.]

1. A clergyman, or ecclesiastic; a man in holy orders. – Ayliffe.
2. A man that can read. Every one that could read … being accounted a clerk. – Blackstone.
3. A man of letters; a scholar. – Sidney. South. The foregoing significations are found in the English laws, and histories of the church; as in the rude ages of the church, learning was chiefly confined to the clergy. In modern usage,
4. A writer; one who is employed in the use of the pen, in an office public or private, for keeping records, and accounts; as, the clerk of a court. In some cases clerk is synonymous with secretary; but not always. A clerk is always an officer subordinate to a higher officer, board, corporation or person; whereas, a secretary may be either a subordinate officer, or the head of an office or department.
5. A layman who is the reader of responses in church service. – Johnson.