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clandestine

 - 3 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.
Use clandestine in a Sentence
Origin:
1560–70; < L clandestīnus, equiv. to *clande, *clamde, var. of clam secretly (with -de adv. particle) + -stīnus, prob. after intestīnus internal; see intestine

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

Synonyms:
hidden, underhand, confidential, illicit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To clandestine
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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