secret

Meanings

Noun

• A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
• The key or principle by which something is made clear; the knack.
• Something not understood or known.
• Private seclusion.
• The genital organs.
• A form of steel skullcap.
• Any prayer spoken inaudibly and not aloud; especially, one of the prayers in the Mass, immediately following the "orate, fratres", said inaudibly by the celebrant.

Adjective

• Being or kept hidden.
• Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded.
• Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive, separate, apart.
• Separate; distinct.

Verb

• To make or keep secret.
• To hide secretly.

Related

Similar words

• dern

Opposite words

• overt

Origin

• From Middle English secrette, from Old French secret, from Latin sēcrētus ("separated, hidden"), from ptp of sēcernō, from Latin cernō, from Proto-Indo-European *krey- . Displaced native Old English dēagol ("secret") and dēagolnes.