CLANDESTINE

clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, secret, surreptitious, undercover, underground

(adjective) conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; “clandestine intelligence operations”; “cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines”; “hole-and-corner intrigue”; “secret missions”; “a secret agent”; “secret sales of arms”; “surreptitious mobilization of troops”; “an undercover investigation”; “underground resistance”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

clandestine (comparative more clandestine, superlative most clandestine)

Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.

Synonyms: covert, furtive, hush-hush, secret, secretive, undercover, Thesaurus:covert

(freemasonry, of a person or lodge) Not recognized as a regular member.

Source: Wiktionary


Clan*des"tine, a. Etym: [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.]

Definition: Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke.

Syn.

– Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy; surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent.

– Clan*des"tine*ly, adv.

– Clan*des"tine*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

2 May 2025

MINESHAFT

(noun) excavation consisting of a vertical or sloping passageway for finding or mining ore or for ventilating a mine


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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