Main Entry:

clan·des·tine

Pronunciation:

\klan-ˈdes-tən also -ˌtīn or -ˌtēn or ˈklan-dəs-\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide — more at hell

Date:

circa 1528

: marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy : surreptitious <a clandestine love affair>

synonyms see secret

— clan·des·tine·ly adverb

— clan·des·tine·ness noun

— clan·des·tin·i·ty \ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē, -des-ˈti-\ noun