I. ˈsē-krət adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French secré, secret, from Latin secretus, from past participle of secernere to separate, distinguish, from se- apart + cernere to sift — more at secede , certain
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : kept from knowledge or view : hidden
b. : marked by the habit of discretion : closemouthed
c. : working with hidden aims or methods : undercover
a secret agent
d. : not acknowledged : unavowed
a secret bride
e. : conducted in secret
a secret trial
2. : remote from human frequentation or notice : secluded
3. : revealed only to the initiated : esoteric
4. : designed to elude observation or detection
a secret panel
5. : containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could endanger national security — compare confidential , top secret
• se·cret·ly adverb
Synonyms:
secret , covert , stealthy , furtive , clandestine , surreptitious , underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive
met at a secret location
covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared
covert intelligence operations
stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing
the stealthy step of a burglar
furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness
lovers exchanging furtive glances
clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered
a clandestine meeting of conspirators
surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority
the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons
underhanded stresses fraud or deception
an underhanded trick
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : something kept hidden or unexplained : mystery
b. : something kept from the knowledge of others or shared only confidentially with a few
c. : a method, formula, or process used in an art or operation and divulged only to those of one's own company or craft : trade secret
d. plural : the practices or knowledge making up the shared discipline or culture of an esoteric society
2. : a prayer traditionally said inaudibly by the celebrant just before the preface of the mass
3. : something taken to be a specific or key to a desired end
the secret of longevity
•
- in secret