Middle English Dictionary Entry
clerk n.
Entry Info
| Forms | clerk n. Also clark, clerek, cleric; (early) clærc, cleark, cleorc. Pl. clerkes; (early gen.pl.) clerca, clerkene. |
| Etymology | OE clerc, clēric & OF clerc, L clēricus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A member of the clergy (as distinguished from the laity), an ecclesiastic, cleric; ~ possessioner, a member of one of the endowed orders; (b) one of the secular clergy (as distinguished from monastics); ~ seculer; (c) a person in minor orders, an ecclesiastic lower in rank than a priest; ~ acolite, an acolyte; holi water ~, a minor cleric who carries the holy water vessel; parish ~, a parish clerk; (d) a person in a non-Christian order viewed as comparable to that of the Christian clergy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)181 : Ilch man of his wise noteð his swinhc..Clerc on his wise, Cniht on his wise, Tilie on his wise.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10904 : Næs nan biscop, næs nan clærk [Otho: cleorc] ne cniht..bute he widsoke cristindom, þat he nes anan fordon.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)729 : Clerkes [Jes-O: Clerekes], munekes & kanunes, Þar boþ þos gode wicke tunes, Ariseþ up to midel niȝte.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)574 : Ȝif..were ani striuingue..bi-tuene a lewed man and a clerk for holi churche þingue..Þe king wolde þat In his court þat plai scholde beon i-driue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11814 : Clerkes..Þat hulde wiþ sir simon he greuede of manion.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)53/1478 : Þe croune of clerke y-opened hys.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)42/18 : Hi [certain sins] belongeþ more to klerekes þanne to leawede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.167 : Cuthlacius..wente to þe abbay of Rependoun, and þere..took tonsure and habit of clerk [L clericalem].
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)31/12,15 : Clerkes..þat lede her lif as lewide men..Clerkes þat folewiþ Crist, as prestes þat serueþ þe auter, & beþ occupied in holy seruise of God.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)106/7 : Þus ben alle þre astaatis enfectid in leccherie, fro þe lewid man to þe clerk.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)60/2 : All þai hafe þaire crownes schauen, þe clerkes rownde and þe lawed men [F laicz] foure cornerd.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)116 : Clerkis possessioneris fordon presthod, knyȝthode & comineris; for þei taken þe ordre of presthod..hiden hem self in gay cloistris.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)335 : Leernyd men and also clerkis, þat is to seie preestis and her ministris.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)153 : Ȝif a clerk haue..Cure of soules or bischopriche.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)84 : Zozime Pope..ordeyned that no bonde-man schuld be mad a clerk.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : Draf ut þa clerca of þe biscop rice, forþan þet hi noldon nan regul healden, and sætta þær muneca.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)324-5 : Þe Abite of Monek he [Becket] nam, And a-boue al þan clerkene Robe ase to is stat bi-cam; So þat he was clerk with-oute and with-Inne Monek al-so.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27172 : Þou agh to min Quat man he es þat did þe sin..Werlds man, or clerc, or closterer.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27244 : Anendis þe clerkis seculers [Vsp: clergis seculers] agh þe preste to fraine him fers of symony.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.73 : Boþe clerkes seculers and þese newe religiouse forsaken þes two weies.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)20/30 : Þei..þat beþ in grete staat in þis world, be it religious or clerke or lewed man.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)539 : I dede se Grete noumbre..Off clerkys & relygyous.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)86b : Sire hit wes wið swuch mon, & nempni þenne munek, Preost, oðer clearc & of þet ordre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3312 : Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk.
- (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4185 : I wyte to my parich preste iij s. iiij d., and to the paresch clerk xij d.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11590 : An holywatyr clerk of a tounne Þat lytyl haþ lerned yn hys lyue, he ys ordeyned a prest to shryue.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12897 : Selcut was..þe clerc [Göt: klerk] to baptis þe prist, þe sun þe fader, þe knitht þe king.
- (1402) Will in Bk.Lond.E.211/15 : Y ȝeue to þe parich prest of Harfeld x s..to þe clerk of þe chirch of Harfeld xij d.
- (1434) EEWills101/11 : To the klerk of the forseyd churche.
- (1439) EEWills114/27 : The brederhede of seynt Nicholas founded by paressh clerkes in London.
- (a1447) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29app.241 : John Pottez..has..layd hondez in violence apon ye clerke accolett.
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)150/6 : Þe priores..sal cum..& þe prest & þe clerk with torchlyght for to halow hir bed.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57268 : Gevyn to the halywater clerke ij d.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.52b : John Restawrek..holywater Clerk.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)50 : Chapleynes and clerkes of the chapell.
- (1483) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms180 : Joh. Pye, parishclerc.
d
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Luke (Bod 243:Hudson)31/59 : He clepiþ 'wolues' scribis and farisees, clerkis of Iewis.
2.
(a) One who is educated; a learned person, scholar, master (of some subject); (b) a man of letters, writer, author; (c) a pupil, student; esp., a university student.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15750 : Magan..wes a wis clærc & cuðe of feole cræften.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30490 : An clarc [Otho: cleark] þe com from Spaine..of heȝere laren.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)72/19 : Alfred..was king & cleric [vrr. clerc, clerek].
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/17 : Þo dede he [Herod] somoni alle þo wyse clerekes þet kuþe þe laghe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)25624 : Bissopes þis ihorde and clearkes [Clg: boc-ilærede men] wel wise.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)790 : Egipte clerkes..hem lerede..Astronomige and arsmetike.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.24 : Dronkeschipe..makth a gret clerk sone Of him that is a lewed man.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1575,1579 : Þer comen mony Clerkes out of Caldye..Sorsers and exorsismus and fele such clerkes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)115/8 : Many philosophers and grete clerkez [Tit: wise men: F sagis] of diuers sciences, sum of astronomy, sum of nigromancy..and many swilk oþer sciencez.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)345 : Suche mater of seed is purer..þann is eny flewme..as to natural clerkis may wel be knowen.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)19 : After the seven sages he sent, And messangers..broghten the clerkes of honour Ryght byfore the emperour.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)132 : Herry the First..was named Herry Clerk.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1029 : The clerkes of connynge that han taken degre.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)118/15 : Equyuoca, þat is to seie, wordis of manye significaciouns, as clerkis in latyn and in ebrewe and greke wel knowun.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)150/323 : At good clerkys and wyse of lare I wyll wyt soyn.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)39 : Boc..þe þridde..þa makeden a Frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten, þe wel couþe writen.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)963 : Of suche [a fight]..no clerke vnder sonne..þe soþe ȝou telle conne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2274 : A tale I rede..So as the clerk Ovide tolde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.32 : Fraunceys Petrak, the laureate poete, Highte this clerk.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4212 : Who was..better clerk þan Vyrgyle was?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.216 : The glorie Of hiȝe prowes..clerkis in memorie Han trewly set..And enlumyned with many corious flour Of rethorik.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)370 : He ne hath nat doon so grevously amys, To translaten that olde clerkes writen.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)53 : Þe truth..Of þat fight..was clanly compilet with a clerk wise, On Gydo.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)25 : The famous clerke of eloquence,Tullius,seithe [etc.].
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)12 : I Schall you tell..Off a knyght þat Dowghtty wase..ase clarkys ffynde.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.285 : A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also, That vn to logyk hadde longe ygo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1119 : Yonge clerkes that ben lykerous To reden artes..Seken in euery halke..Particuler sciences for to lerne.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Rv.(Elsm)A.4002 : Thanne were ther yonge poure clerkes [Heng: scolers] two That dwelten in this halle.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)84/23 : Þis..rule of obedience schal be streiȝtli kept in children to her parentis..in clerkis to her maistris, in prestis to her prelatis.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19340 : I wol ther be departed to iiij pore clerkes viij marcs for to helpe them to scolay.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A scole of clerkys.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)54 : The..prince comaunded the scolemaister..to be betyn withe..roddis withe his owne clerkis.
3.
(a) Secretary, amanuensis, recorder; also, an official in charge of records and accounts; (b) in titles of town and guild officers: ~ of the toun, commune ~, town clerk; ~ of the paper, a keeper of official records; (c) in titles of royal or municipal officers (also, officers in a nobleman's household): ~ countrollour, ~ of the countrollement, a record clerk in the king's counting house; ~ of ac)count(es, an accountant, an official in charge of accounts; ~ of grene cloth, some kind of auditor [see quot.]; ~ of the closet, an official in charge of the king's chapel; ~ of the comune place, a Roman court officer; ~ of the coroune, a royal clerk; esp., a chancery official who issued writs of summons to Parliament and served as parliamentary clerk during its sessions [see EHR 57.312-7]; ~ of the market, an official responsible for maintaining the standards of weights and measures at fairs and markets; ~ of the parlement, chancery official responsible for the records of the sessions of Parliament; ~ of the pipe, a keeper of the pipe-rolls or exchequer accounts; ~ of the rolles, a record clerk, keeper of the rolls; ~ of the werkes, officer in charge of building and repair; ~ purveiour, official in charge of the wardrobe.
Associated quotations
a
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.48 : Also ordeyned it is..to chese..a Clerke to wryten and entryn þe þe Names and þe nessessarijs of þe gild.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5747 : Pers kalled to hym hys clerk Þat was hys notarye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.58 : Many man assembled..As sysours and sompnours, Shireues and here clerkes.
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.181/1276 : Þey deden grante to hym xl s. be ȝer more þanne ony clerk hadde beforn þat tyme.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)142/36 : Vnder the Emperoures table sitten iiij clerkes þat writen all þat the Emperour seyth.
- (1439) RParl.5.29b : By the whiche..remevement of the said Recordes..youre Clerkes and Felicers may nought make processe and putte in execution Jugementes, Actions [etc.].
- (1442) RParl.5.54b : Diverse Custumers, Countrollours..and Surveyours of Serchis have diverse persones to be here Clerkes, Deputees and Ministres in here seide Offices.
- (a1450) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xliv : The said Roger..is..clerk attendunt unto the mair and aldremen of the same citee..for entrees of recordes, plees, [etc.].
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)128 : Nis no clerk with countours couþe aluendel rekene.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.226 : The office of the bakhous:..John Threpland sergeant, Henry Westhowe clerc.
- (1474) RParl.6.118b : Any of your Officers of any of your Courtes..or any of their Clerkes.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)66 : That none other person make..bylles but the clerkes of the self offyce.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)503 : Thei sholde telle the auentures..and the clerkes that were therfore I-ordeyned, it wrote worde for worde.
b
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.64 : Euerych bakere of þe town..shal..to þe clerke of þe town a peny.
- (1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120182 : He sall pay at his first settyng up of his shoppe..xl d. to the comon clerk.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.172/1004 : John Carpenter, Clerk of þe Gildehalle.
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.181/1268 : William porlond, Clerk of Brewers craffte.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)169 : Ȝif the comoun clerk of the toun make ony fals enrollyng.
- (1444) RParl.5.123a : The comen Clerk of the seid Toun.
- (a1450) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xliv : Roger Tonge, comune clerk of the citee of London.
- (1452) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)345 : No moo Clerkes in aither of the Counters then the Secundarye, the Clerk of the papir and other two Clerkes to theym.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.91,95 : I sauh þer Bisschops Bolde and Bachilers of diuyn Bi-coome Clerkes of A-Counte, þe kyng for to seruen..Erchedekenes and Deknes..Beon lopen to londun..To ben Clerkes of þe kynges Benche.
- (1414) RParl.4.57b : That the Peticions..mowe ben enacted in the Parlement Rolle, and also to ȝeve in charge to the Clerke of the Parlement, that I may have a Copye of the same.
- (1418-9) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xvi : Roger Wodehill..som tyme clerc of ȝoure faders Spicerie.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.857 : Th. Haselay clerk of ye crown.
- ?c1430 Wycl.CTemp.(Corp-C 296)215 : Goodis..ben now wastid..in riche clerkis of the Chauncerie.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)81 : Clerke of cowntys: Competista.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69286 : Robert Dyke, Clerc of the Rolles of your Chauncery..enrollede the seide actes in your Chauncery.
- (1442) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1385 : William lynde, clerke of the werkes of the edificacion of the kinges college of owre lady of Eton.
- (1450) RParl.5.197a : John Parke, oon of oure Clerkes of oure Grenecloth.
- (1451) RParl.5.219a : Exempt fro the..jurisdiction of the..clerk of the Market.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.223 : Clerc of þe closet, Sir Edward.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.226 : The countynghous:..Thomas Rokes, Thomas Bateman, clerkes of thaccomptes..John Brekenoke, clerk of þe countrollement.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.228 : Thoffice of þe kechyn: John Hardewike,clerc of þe kechyn.
- (1455) RParl.5.342b : The Office of the Clerk of the Pipe..Robart Cawode, thenne Clerk of the Office of the Pipe.
- (1456) Invent.Armory in Archaeol.16123 : John Merston, clerc of the Jewells.
- (1456) Invent.Armory in Archaeol.16126 : Maister William Clyf, at yat tyme Clerc of the Werks.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)86.46 (v.2:p.101) : It happid oon of the clerkis of the commoun place [L (Acta Sanctorum 14 May (May v.3 (1680):283B)): commentariensis] to mete with hem.
- (?1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.47 : Blakeney, clerk of the sygnet.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)122 : The expenses off wich housholde mey sone be estemed..bi the clerkys off theschekquer.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)19 : The Warderober, also called Clerk Purvayour.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)51 : Clerke of closette, kepeththe the stuffe of the closette.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)53 : Clerke of Markette..maketh examination..of the assizes of brede, wyne, ale.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)60 : Clerkys of Grene-Clothe, tweyne..In all jugementes..at the greneclothe these clerkes, and the chyef clerke countroller, owe to sitte thereat..as audytoures and counceloures, to helpe kepe in course the statutes.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)62 : Clerke of Controulment..hys charge ys to see to all manner of purveyaunces.
- a1500(c1450) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)114 : George Asheby, clerc of oure signet.
4.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1208) Fine R.King John419 : Walterus Manclerc.
- (1228) Close R.Hen.III15 : Galfridi le Clerc.
- (1261) Deed St.Peter Glo.(2) in BGAS 3822 : Reginald clerke.
- (1275) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms221 : Rog. le Klerk..Matilda la Klerk.
- (1281) Hundred R.Tower 2616 : Beatrix le Clerc.
- (c1313) Bristol Rebellion in BGAS 19192 : Robert Martin le Cleric.
- (1345) Court R.Colchester 1190 : John Clerkessone.
- (1416) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms221 : Joh. Petyclerk.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 4139 : Robertus Clark.
- (1452) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)344 : Thomas Biset and William Clerk, Wardeins of the crafte of Pynners.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)313 : 'I ame a clarke of ordors hyȝe.' 'Ȝett cannyst þou noȝt of corttessyȝe, I swer, so mott I trye.'
- a1500(1381) Knighton Chron.Contin.(Cld E.3)139 : Synne fareth as wilde flode, trew love is away, that wasse so gode, and clerkus for welthe worche hem wo.
Note: New forms: Also..clarke; pl. clerkus.
Note: Quots. belong to sense 1.(a).
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A frape of clerkez.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)233 : A frape of clerkes.
Note: ?New sense: "In term of association, characterized by a term of association."
Note: Difficult to ascertain to which general sense 'clerk' would belong here: sense 1. (clergy) or sense 2. (scholars), even though these two groups may overlap. The first quot. is additional for all of the subsenses of sense 1.; the second quot. postdates all of them. Likewise, the first quot. is additional for all of the subsenses of sense 2. and postdates all of them.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.290 : Ich knowe neuere..clek [read: clerk] noþer lewede, That he ne askede after hus and..coueytede Thyng þat needede hym nat.
Note: New form: Also..(error) clek.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(a). (The typical pairing of a "learned man" and "lewd one," that is, an educated one and an uneducated one, or a cleric and a non-cleric.)
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)1752, 1756 : Twoo clerkys ben hir foone, Fekyll off bloode and bone, That hauyth y-doo this dede; They ar men of mynstrye, Clyrkys of nigermansye, Here arte for-to rede.
Note: New form: Also..clirk.
Note: New gloss for sense2.(a): "a student or practitioner of a certain art; 2.(a): "~ of nigromauncie."
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)292/17 : In the xj ȝere..aperede in þe firmament a bemyd sterre, þe whiche clercus calleþ stella comata.
Note: New form: Pl. clercus.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--all notes per MLL