Covertly

cov·ert  (kvrt, kvrt, k-vûrt)

adj.

1. Not openly practiced, avowed, engaged in, accumulated, or shown: covert military operations; covert funding for the rebels. See Synonyms at secret.

2. Covered or covered over; sheltered.

3. Law Being married and therefore protected by one's husband.

n.

1. A covering or cover.

2.

a. A covered place or shelter; hiding place.

b. Thick underbrush or woodland affording cover for game.

3. Zoology One of the small feathers covering the bases of the longer feathers of a bird's wings or tail.

4. A flock of coots. See Synonyms at flock¹.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from past participle of covrir, to cover; see cover.]

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covert·ly adv.

covert·ness n.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

covertly - in a covert manner; "he did it covertly" overtly - in an overt manner; "he did it overtly"