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clandestine - 4 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


clan⋅des⋅tine⋅ly, adverb
clan⋅des⋅tine⋅ness, clan⋅des⋅tin⋅i⋅ty, noun


hidden, underhand, confidential, illicit.
clan·des·tine   (klān-děs'tĭn)   
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.

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 Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage.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.
Language Translation for : clandestine
Spanish: clandestino,
German: verstohlen,
Japanese: 秘密の

clandestine 
1566, from L. clandestinus "secret, hidden," from clam "secretly," from base of celare "to hide" (see cell).
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