I. ˈklä-zət, ˈklȯ- noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French closett , diminutive of clos enclosure — more at close
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : an apartment or small room for privacy
b. : a monarch's or official's private chamber
2. : a cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing
3. : a place of retreat or privacy
4. : water closet
5. : a state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity
came out of the closet
• clos·et·ful -ˌfu̇l noun
II. transitive verb
Date: 1595
1. : to shut up in or as if in a closet
2. : to take into a closet for a secret interview
III. adjective
Date: circa 1615
1. : closely private
2. : working in or suited to the closet as the place of seclusion or study : theoretical
3. : being so in private
a closet racist