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Clandestine - 5 dictionary results
clan⋅des⋅tine
[klan-des-tin] 
–adjective
| characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, esp. for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious: Their clandestine meetings went undiscovered for two years. |
Origin:
1560–70; < L clandestīnus, equiv. to *clande, *clamde, var. of clam secretly (with -de adv. particle) + -stīnus, prob. after intestīnus internal; see intestine
1560–70; < L clandestīnus, equiv. to *clande, *clamde, var. of clam secretly (with -de adv. particle) + -stīnus, prob. after intestīnus internal; see intestine
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Clandestine
| Spanish: | clandestino, | German: | verstohlen, | Japanese: | 秘密の |
| clan·des·tine
(klān-děs'tĭn) Pronunciation Key
adj. Kept or done in secret, often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose. See Synonyms at secret. [Latin clandestīnus, probably blend of *clam-de, secretly (from clam; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots) and intestīnus, internal; see intestine.] clan·des'tine·ly adv., clan·des'tine·ness, clan'des·tin'i·ty n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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clandestine
1566, from L. clandestinus "secret, hidden," from clam "secretly," from base of celare "to hide" (see cell).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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| clandestine | |
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" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Clandestine
Clan*des"tine\, a. [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.] 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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