amanuensis

[uh-man-yoo-en-sis]

noun

plural

amanuenses 

1. a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another; secretary.

amanuensis

/ əˌmænjʊˈɛnsɪs /

noun

1. a person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts

Word History and Origins

Origin of amanuensis¹

1610–20; < Latin ( servus ) āmanuēnsis, equivalent to ā- a- ⁴ + manu-, stem of manus hand + -ēnsis -ensis

Word History and Origins

Origin of amanuensis¹

C17: from Latin āmanuensis, from the phrase servus ā manū slave at hand (that is, handwriting)

Example Sentences

Bart was an untrained tune savant, a latter-day Irving Berlin; if the songs are so hummable it’s probably because his composition method was built on humming them to an amanuensis.

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She became not only Wiggins’ full-time caregiver but her amanuensis and archivist.

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When it comes to John Watson, Holmes’s best friend, amanuensis and sometimes roommate, Holmes criticizes him, deceives him, disappears for years and lets Watson believe him dead.

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The Jacksons had grown weary of the Motown factory system — the strict control of songwriting, production and other aspects of art and commerce exercised by Gordy and his amanuenses.

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Gilot is Picasso’s amanuensis, his interlocutor and interpreter, his money manager, his model.

Read more on The New Yorker

Related Words

• agent 
• auditor 
• bookkeeper www.thesaurus.com
• cashier 
• employee 
• operator 
• receptionist 
• salesperson 
• secretary 
• teller 
• worker