clandestine
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.clan·des·tine
adjective \klan-ˈdes-tən also -ˌtīn or -ˌtēn or ˈklan-dəs-\Definition of CLANDESTINE
: marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy : surreptitious <a clandestine love affair>
— clan·des·tine·ly adverb
— clan·des·tine·ness noun
— clan·des·tin·i·ty \ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē, -des-ˈti-\ noun
See Examples of CLANDESTINE
- <I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace.>
- The clandestine meetings, the passing back and forth of messages between Lodge and the plotters, the coaxing along of the generals, all had the emotional lift of a strong amphetamine. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
- The CIA's great innovation has been to concentrate in peacetime on ‘covert action’—that is, the use of clandestine means to challenge policies and regimes in other countries. —Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
- And Pym was in London for a conference—no, he wasn't, he was attending a three-day course on the latest methods of clandestine communication in a beastly little training house off Smith Square. —John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986
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Origin of CLANDESTINE
Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide — more at hell
First Known Use: circa 1528
Related to CLANDESTINE
- Synonyms
- backstairs, behind-the-scenes, secret, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded
See Synonym Discussion at secret
Rhymes with CLANDESTINE
Learn More About CLANDESTINE
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