Clericalism
(Cler"ic*al*ism) n. An excessive devotion to the interests of the sacerdotal order; undue
influence of the clergy; sacerdotalism.
Clericity
(Cler*ic"i*ty) n. The state of being a clergyman.
Clerisy
(Cler"i*sy) n. [LL. clericia. See Clergy.]
1. The literati, or well educated class.
2. The clergy, or their opinions, as opposed to the laity.
Clerk
(Clerk) n. [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus,
fr. Gr. klhriko`s belonging to the clergy, fr. klh^ros lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. Clergy.]
1. A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Obs.]
All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ.
Ayliffe.
2. A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters. [Obs.] "Every one that could
read . . . being accounted a clerk." Blackstone.
He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe.
Burke.
3. A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service,
and otherwise assists in it. [Eng.] Hook.
And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen".
Shak.
4. One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town
clerk.
The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill.
Strype.
In some cases, clerk is synonymous with secretary. A clerk is always an officer subordinate to a higher
officer, board, corporation, or person; whereas a secretary may be either a subordinate or the head of an
office or department.
5. An assistant in a shop or store. [U. S.]
Clerk-ale
(Clerk"-ale`) n. A feast for the benefit of the parish clerk. [Eng.] T. Warton.
Clerkless
(Clerk"less), a. Unlearned. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
Clerklike
(Clerk"like`) a. Scholarlike. [Obs.] Shak.
Clerkliness
(Clerk"li*ness) n. Scholarship. [Obs.]
Clerkly
(Clerk"ly), a. Of or pertaining to a clerk. Cranmer.
Clerkly
(Clerk"ly), adv. In a scholarly manner. [Obs.] Shak.
Clerkship
(Clerk"ship), n. State, quality, or business of a clerk.
Cleromancy
(Cler"o*man`cy) n. [Gr. lot + -mancy; cf. F. cléromancie.] A divination by throwing dice or
casting lots.
