undersecretary

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- English secretary English undersecretary From under- + secretary.

1. An administrator immediately subordinate to a head of a government department or to a member of a cabinet
2. An assistant or deputy secretary of a government department