hele

Meaning

Verb

• To hide, conceal, and keep secret, especially for a secret society (such as the masons).
• To cover or conceal (a seedling, plant, roots, etc).

Origin

• From Middle English helen, helien, from Old English helan and helian, from Proto-West Germanic *helan, from Proto-Germanic *helaną and Proto-Germanic *haljaną; both from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- ("to hide").
• Cognate with Scots heal, Saterland Frisian hela, Dutch helen, German hehlen, Swedish häla ("hide") and hälare, as well as with helmet and Latin cēlō ("conceal"). Related to hole, hull.