Dictionary

secret en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɛt/ (obsolete)
• /ˈsiː.kɹət/ weak vowel merger
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɪt/

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English secret, from Latin sēcrētum. Doublet of secretum. Displaced Old English dēagolnes (“a secret”). The verb is from the noun.

Meanings

1. (countable) A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
   • "Can you keep a secret?" "Yes." "So can I."
   • Now we are liberal with our innermost secrets, spraying them into the public ether with a generosity our forebears could not have imagined. Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet. 2013 June 14, Jonathan Freedland, “Obama's once hip brand is now tainted”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 18:
   • Well, mistress, I am sorry this is a matter I cannot aid you in—it goes against my conscience, and it is an affair above my condition, and beyond my management;—but I will keep your secret. 1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter VIII, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume I (in English), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 216:
   • Barla Von: Most people think I deal in finances, but my real currency is knowledge. I trade information and it has made me very wealthy. Barla Von: But the Shadow Broker is the true master. Every day, he buys and sells secrets that could topple governments, always giving them to the highest bidder. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
   • To tell our own secrets is generally folly, but that folly is without guilt; to communicate those with which we are intrusted is always treachery May 1, 1750, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler No. 13
   • The storage of cryptographic secrets is one of the paramount requirements in building trustworthy systems. 2014, Thomas Feller, Trustworthy Reconfigurable Systems:
2. (countable, uncountable) The key or principle by which something is made clear; the knack.
   • The secret to a long-lasting marriage is compromise.
3. (countable, uncountable) Something not understood or known.
   • Thou knewſt by name, and all th' ethereal powers, / All ſecrets of the deep, all Natures works, 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1468–1469:
4. (uncountable) Private seclusion.
   • The work was done in secret, so that nobody could object.
5. (archaic, countable, in-plural, uncountable) The genital organs.
6. (countable, historical, uncountable) A form of steel skullcap.
7. (countable, in-plural, often, uncountable) Any prayer spoken inaudibly and not aloud; especially, one of the prayers in the Tridentine Mass, immediately following the "orate, fratres", said inaudibly by the celebrant.

Forms

Deriveds

supersecret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · worst-kept secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · secretmonger (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · secret squirrel (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · make no secret of (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · top secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · nonsecret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · pseudosecret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · state secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · secret sharing (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · Victoria's Secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · trade secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · secretist (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · open secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · best-kept secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · in secret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · subsecret (Terms derived from secret (noun)) · secret of Polichinelle (Terms derived from secret (noun))

Descendants

siikret

Synonyms

dern

Translations (185)

sh та̑јна (knowledge that is hidden) · da hemmelighed (knowledge that is hidden) · be таямні́ца (knowledge that is hidden) · cdo 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · fro secret (knowledge that is hidden) · kk сыр (knowledge that is hidden) · eo sekreto (knowledge that is hidden) · ang dēagolnes (knowledge that is hidden) · hi राज़ (knowledge that is hidden) · kl isertugaq (knowledge that is hidden) · tyv чажыт (knowledge that is hidden) · fi salaisuus (knowledge that is hidden) · yi סוד (knowledge that is hidden) · id sir (knowledge that is hidden) · ks سِر (knowledge that is hidden) · mt sigriet (knowledge that is hidden) · tt сер (knowledge that is hidden) · egy S:t*U30-A-Z9-w-Y1:Z2 (knowledge that is hidden) · bn রহস্য (knowledge that is hidden) · it segreto (knowledge that is hidden) · ja 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · pl tajemnica (knowledge that is hidden) · sga rún (knowledge that is hidden) · es arcano (knowledge that is hidden) · hy գաղտնիք (knowledge that is hidden) · kbd щэху (knowledge that is hidden) · crh sır (knowledge that is hidden) · dng бими (knowledge that is hidden) · mk тајна (knowledge that is hidden) · mr गुपित (knowledge that is hidden) · ps نوز (knowledge that is hidden) · tk syr (knowledge that is hidden) · tr giz (knowledge that is hidden) · ba сер (knowledge that is hidden) · af geheim (knowledge that is hidden) · ia secreto (knowledge that is hidden) · my အတွင်းစကား (knowledge that is hidden) · tl sikreto (knowledge that is hidden) · kum сыр (knowledge that is hidden) · ga rún (knowledge that is hidden) · be та́йна (knowledge that is hidden) · ase A@Mouth-ThumbBack Contact (knowledge that is hidden) · ug سىر (knowledge that is hidden) · de Geheimnis (knowledge that is hidden) · ur سِرّ (knowledge that is hidden) · lb Geheechnes (knowledge that is hidden) · sv hemlighet (knowledge that is hidden) · hi राज (knowledge that is hidden) · fi salatieto (knowledge that is hidden) · nan-hbl 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · wa sicret (knowledge that is hidden) · tg роз (knowledge that is hidden) · la sēcrēta (inaudible prayer, especially after the “orate fratres” at Mass) · scn sicritu (knowledge that is hidden) · fr secret (knowledge that is hidden) · br kevrin (knowledge that is hidden) · wuh sangwa (knowledge that is hidden) · lt paslaptis (knowledge that is hidden) · xmf სალამუსო (knowledge that is hidden) · kmr surr (knowledge that is hidden) · mn ᠨᠢᠭᠤᠴᠠ (knowledge that is hidden) · mi muna (knowledge that is hidden) · pdt Jeheemniss (knowledge that is hidden) · ru та́йна (knowledge that is hidden) · hak 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · ar خَفِيَّة (knowledge that is hidden) · vi điều bí mật (knowledge that is hidden) · cmn 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · la abscōnsum (knowledge that is hidden) · kjh чазыт (knowledge that is hidden) · ca secret (knowledge that is hidden) · ps راز (knowledge that is hidden) · hu titok (knowledge that is hidden) · mn нууц (knowledge that is hidden) · hi सेर (knowledge that is hidden) · az sirr (knowledge that is hidden) · fa-ira سِکْرِت (knowledge that is hidden) · ota سر (knowledge that is hidden) · krc таша (knowledge that is hidden) · cy cyfrinach (knowledge that is hidden) · ltg paslāpums (knowledge that is hidden) · nl geheim (knowledge that is hidden) · uk тає́мниця (knowledge that is hidden) · bg секре́т (knowledge that is hidden) · gl segredo (knowledge that is hidden) · swb siri (knowledge that is hidden) · pih siikret (knowledge that is hidden) · ce къайле (knowledge that is hidden) · la mystērium (knowledge that is hidden) · gd cagar (knowledge that is hidden) · ps سر (knowledge that is hidden) · ga scéal rúin (knowledge that is hidden) · et saladus (knowledge that is hidden) · hsn 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · sh tȃjna (knowledge that is hidden) · inh къайле (knowledge that is hidden) · kk құпия (knowledge that is hidden) · cs tajemství (knowledge that is hidden) · id rahasia (knowledge that is hidden) · ka საიდუმლო (knowledge that is hidden) · ur راز (knowledge that is hidden) · sah кистэлэҥ (knowledge that is hidden) · sw siri (knowledge that is hidden) · km ការសម្ងាត់ (knowledge that is hidden) · yue 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · vo klän (knowledge that is hidden) · nl geheimenis (knowledge that is hidden) · be сакрэ́т (knowledge that is hidden) · uk секре́т (knowledge that is hidden) · ks راز (knowledge that is hidden) · fa-ira سِرّ (knowledge that is hidden) · sjd пя̄ҋҋт (knowledge that is hidden) · eu sekretu (knowledge that is hidden) · fo loyndarmál (knowledge that is hidden) · got 𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌰 (knowledge that is hidden) · gv folliaght (knowledge that is hidden) · te రహస్యం (knowledge that is hidden) · bg та́йна (knowledge that is hidden) · fi sala (knowledge that is hidden) · is leyndarmál (knowledge that is hidden) · la opertum (knowledge that is hidden) · wuu 秘密 (knowledge that is hidden) · tl lihim (knowledge that is hidden) · gd rùn (knowledge that is hidden) · frm secret (knowledge that is hidden) · krc тахса (knowledge that is hidden) · hi रहस्य (knowledge that is hidden) · la sēcrētum (knowledge that is hidden) · nn løyndom (knowledge that is hidden) · krc сыр (knowledge that is hidden) · ta ரகசியம் (knowledge that is hidden) · vec secreto (knowledge that is hidden) · sl skrivnost (knowledge that is hidden) · ko 비밀 (knowledge that is hidden) · sk tajomstvo (knowledge that is hidden) · ur سِر (knowledge that is hidden) · orv таина (knowledge that is hidden) · la arcānum (knowledge that is hidden) · io sekreto (knowledge that is hidden) · fur secret (knowledge that is hidden) · uk таїна́ (knowledge that is hidden) · xal нууц (knowledge that is hidden) · fur segret (knowledge that is hidden) · kmr nehînî (knowledge that is hidden) · yi סאָד (knowledge that is hidden) · non rún (knowledge that is hidden) · ast secretu (knowledge that is hidden) · pt segredo (knowledge that is hidden) · om iccitii (knowledge that is hidden) · krc джашырым (knowledge that is hidden) · ru секре́т (knowledge that is hidden) · lb Geheimnis (knowledge that is hidden) · nb løyndom (knowledge that is hidden) · tr sır (knowledge that is hidden) · vi bí mật (knowledge that is hidden) · ovd iemligiet (knowledge that is hidden) · lv noslēpums (knowledge that is hidden) · th ความลับ (knowledge that is hidden) · el μυστικό (knowledge that is hidden) · sq sekret (knowledge that is hidden) · ro taină (knowledge that is hidden) · ms sir (knowledge that is hidden) · ro secret (knowledge that is hidden) · nn hemmelegheit (knowledge that is hidden) · uz sir (knowledge that is hidden) · kmr raz (knowledge that is hidden) · bo གསང་བ (knowledge that is hidden) · tg сир (knowledge that is hidden) · non leynd (knowledge that is hidden) · ky сыр (knowledge that is hidden) · alt јажыт (knowledge that is hidden) · nb hemmelighet (knowledge that is hidden) · pl sekret (knowledge that is hidden) · es secreto (knowledge that is hidden) · lo ຄວາມລັບ (knowledge that is hidden) · kum яшыртгъын (knowledge that is hidden) · ar سِرّ (knowledge that is hidden) · fa-ira راز (knowledge that is hidden) · am ምስጢር (knowledge that is hidden) · he סוֹד (knowledge that is hidden) · ms rahsia (knowledge that is hidden) · atv чажыт (knowledge that is hidden) · scn sigretu (Italianization) (knowledge that is hidden) · hil likum (knowledge that is hidden) · za mimiz (knowledge that is hidden)

secret en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɛt/ (obsolete)
• /ˈsiː.kɹət/ weak vowel merger
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɪt/

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English secret, from Latin sēcrētum. Doublet of secretum. Displaced Old English dēagolnes (“a secret”). The verb is from the noun.

Meanings

1. (rare, transitive) To make or keep secret.
   • … she would unfold the silk, press it with a smooth wooden block that she'd heated in the oven, and then once more secret it away. 1984, Peter Scott Lawrence, Around the mulberry tree, Firefly Books, p. 26
   • To prevent the elixir from reaching mankind and thereby upsetting the balance of the universe, two gods secret it away. 1994, Phyllis Granoff & Koichi Shinohara, Monks and magicians: religious biographies in Asia, Mosaic Press, p. 50
   • 1986, InfoWorld, InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. Diskless workstations … make it difficult for individuals to copy information … onto a diskette and secret it away.
2. (rare, transitive) To hide secretly.

Forms

Deriveds

secrete

secret en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɛt/ (obsolete)
• /ˈsiː.kɹət/ weak vowel merger
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈsiː.kɹɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English secrette, from Old French secret, from Latin sēcrētus (“separated, hidden”), from ptp of sēcernō (“separate, to set aside, sunder out”), from cernō, from Proto-Indo-European *krey-. Displaced Old English dēagol (“secret”).

Meanings

1. Being or kept hidden.
   • The ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God; but thoſe things which are reuealed belong unto us, and to our children for euer, that wee may doe all the words of this Law. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 29:29:
   • The original family who had begun to build a palace to outrival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement. 1963, Margery Allingham, “The Elopers”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 25:
   • We went down a secret passage.
2. (obsolete) Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded.
   • "He was a secret man, Alexander—a secret, silent man," he continued. 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, “I Make Acquaintance of My Uncle”, in Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC, page 19:
   • secret in her sapphire cell 1716, Elijah Fenton, an ode to the Right Honourable John Lord Gower:
   • Sing Heav'nly Muſe, that on the secret top / Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didſt inſpire / That Shepherd, who firſt taught the choſen Seed, / In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth / Roſe out of Chaos: [...] 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 6–10:
3. (obsolete) Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive, separate, apart.
   • What neede we any ſpurre, but our owne cauſe / To pricke vs to redreſſe? What other Bond / Than ſecret Romans, that haue ſpoke the Word, / And will not palter? 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 115, column 1:
4. (obsolete) Separate; distinct.
   • They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly secret from matter. 1678, Ralph Cudworth, The True Intellectual System of the Universe:

Forms

Antonyms

overt

Deriveds

semisecretsupersecret (secret (adjective)) · secret key (secret (adjective)) · secret police (secret (adjective)) · ultrasecret (secret (adjective)) · secret sauce (secret (adjective)) · secret writing (secret (adjective)) · secret partner (secret (adjective)) · secretly (secret (adjective)) · top-secret (secret (adjective)) · secret Santa (secret (adjective)) · secret shopper (secret (adjective)) · secret weapon (secret (adjective)) · secret agent (secret (adjective)) · secret recipe (secret (adjective)) · nonsecret (secret (adjective)) · secret vice (secret (adjective)) · secret handshake (secret (adjective)) · secret code (secret (adjective)) · secret admirer (secret (adjective)) · secret history (secret (adjective)) · secret squirrel (secret (adjective)) · secretive (secret (adjective)) · secretness (secret (adjective)) · secret ballot (secret (adjective)) · secret sharing (secret (adjective)) · secret chancellor (secret (adjective)) · secret government (secret (adjective)) · secret menu (secret (adjective)) · secret ink (secret (adjective)) · secret agentry (secret (adjective)) · secret society (secret (adjective)) · secret-sacred (secret (adjective)) · secret sock (secret (adjective)) · unsecret (secret (adjective)) · state secret (secret (adjective)) · secret service (secret (adjective))

Relateds

secrete · secretion

Synonyms

hidden and Thesaurus:covert

Translations (157)

uk тає́мний (being or kept hidden) · fa نهانی (being or kept hidden) · fa مخفی (being or kept hidden) · az sirli (being or kept hidden) · sh та̑јнӣ (being or kept hidden) · af geheime (being or kept hidden) · sv hemlig (being or kept hidden) · kk жасырын (being or kept hidden) · ro secretă (being or kept hidden) · be та́йны (being or kept hidden) · la sēcrētus (being or kept hidden) · eo sekreta (being or kept hidden) · hi पिनहाँ (being or kept hidden) · ga rúnda (being or kept hidden) · he סודי (being or kept hidden) · eu sekretu (being or kept hidden) · oc secret (being or kept hidden) · fi salainen (being or kept hidden) · wa sicrete (being or kept hidden) · ang dēagol (being or kept hidden) · cmn 秘密的 (being or kept hidden) · wa sicret (being or kept hidden) · xdq дяян (being or kept hidden) · hy գաղտնի (being or kept hidden) · pl sekretny (being or kept hidden) · lt slaptas (being or kept hidden) · fi salattu (being or kept hidden) · ru секре́тный (being or kept hidden) · ka საიდუმლო (being or kept hidden) · ar سِرِّيّ (being or kept hidden) · vi bí mật (being or kept hidden) · ko 비밀(秘密)의 (being or kept hidden) · tr saklı (being or kept hidden) · fur segret (being or kept hidden) · te రహస్య (being or kept hidden) · nl geheim (being or kept hidden) · krc джашыртын (being or kept hidden) · sk tajný (being or kept hidden) · tt серле (being or kept hidden) · tyv чажыт (being or kept hidden) · lb geheim (being or kept hidden) · sh скро̀вит (being or kept hidden) · hi गुप्त (being or kept hidden) · ug يوشۇرۇن (being or kept hidden) · tt яшерен (being or kept hidden) · bn গোপন (being or kept hidden) · atv пойында ла (being or kept hidden) · vo klänik (being or kept hidden) · sh skròvit (being or kept hidden) · lld sucrët (being or kept hidden) · tk ýaşyryn (being or kept hidden) · ml രഹസ്യമായ (being or kept hidden) · hy թաքուն (being or kept hidden) · br kevrinek (being or kept hidden) · ja 秘密の (being or kept hidden) · atv чажыттыг (being or kept hidden) · sjd пя̄ҋҋт (being or kept hidden) · vec segreto (being or kept hidden) · bg секре́тен (being or kept hidden) · sa रहस्य (being or kept hidden) · ast secretu (being or kept hidden) · gl secreto (being or kept hidden) · hi छुपा (being or kept hidden) · ca secret (being or kept hidden) · az gizli (being or kept hidden) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌲𐌽𐍃 (being or kept hidden) · gd dìomhair (being or kept hidden) · fi piilotettu (being or kept hidden) · atv туйук (being or kept hidden) · io sekreta (being or kept hidden) · mk таен (being or kept hidden) · az məxfi (being or kept hidden) · kjh чабых (being or kept hidden) · da hemmelig (being or kept hidden) · no hemmelig (being or kept hidden) · sh tȃjnī (being or kept hidden) · bg та́ен (being or kept hidden) · tr gizli (being or kept hidden) · atv чажыт (being or kept hidden) · pl tajemny (being or kept hidden) · nrf s'gret (being or kept hidden) · sl tajen (being or kept hidden) · tl lingid (being or kept hidden) · fi piilo- (being or kept hidden) · alt јажытту (being or kept hidden) · kaa jasırın (being or kept hidden) · krc таша (being or kept hidden) · gd prìobhaideach (being or kept hidden) · fr secret (being or kept hidden) · hi रहस्यमय (being or kept hidden) · ms rahsia (being or kept hidden) · pt secreto (being or kept hidden) · mr गुप्त (being or kept hidden) · rm sacret (being or kept hidden) · ia secrete (being or kept hidden) · sah кистэлэҥнээх (being or kept hidden) · cs tajný (being or kept hidden) · sa गुप्त (being or kept hidden) · ru потайно́й (being or kept hidden) · fy geheim (being or kept hidden) · ase A@Mouth-ThumbBack Contact (being or kept hidden) · ug йошурун (being or kept hidden) · la arcānus (being or kept hidden) · ro tainică (being or kept hidden) · kjh чазыт (being or kept hidden) · fa پنهانی (being or kept hidden) · rm secret (being or kept hidden) · tl lihim (being or kept hidden) · gd uaigneach (being or kept hidden) · el μυστικός (being or kept hidden) · sl skriven (being or kept hidden) · ro tainic (being or kept hidden) · kjh чазыттығ (being or kept hidden) · ota صاقلو (being or kept hidden) · pl tajny (being or kept hidden) · grc λαθραῖος (being or kept hidden) · it segreto (being or kept hidden) · ru та́йный (being or kept hidden) · no skjult (being or kept hidden) · tl sikreto (being or kept hidden) · vec secreto (being or kept hidden) · kum яшыртгъын (being or kept hidden) · be тае́мны (being or kept hidden) · lb heemlech (being or kept hidden) · br kevrin (being or kept hidden) · cy dirgel (being or kept hidden) · az gizlin (being or kept hidden) · pdt heemlich (being or kept hidden) · vec segret (being or kept hidden) · uz yashirin (being or kept hidden) · ro secret (being or kept hidden) · be патае́мны (being or kept hidden) · cy cyfrin (being or kept hidden) · ba йәшерен (being or kept hidden) · kum сырлы (being or kept hidden) · fur secret (being or kept hidden) · non leyniligr (being or kept hidden) · hu titkos (being or kept hidden) · es secreto (being or kept hidden) · be сакрэ́тны (being or kept hidden) · th ลับ (being or kept hidden) · eo kripta (being or kept hidden) · egy i-mn:n-A4 (being or kept hidden) · lt slapta (being or kept hidden) · hil likum (being or kept hidden) · de geheim (being or kept hidden) · uk секре́тний (being or kept hidden) · id rahasia (being or kept hidden) · kum яшырылгьан (being or kept hidden) · is leynilegur (being or kept hidden) · ota كیزلو (being or kept hidden) · atv чабык (being or kept hidden) · br kevrinus (being or kept hidden) · tl tago (being or kept hidden) · ja 密か (being or kept hidden) · fi sala- (being or kept hidden) · uk потайни́й (being or kept hidden)