secret (redirected from being in the secret)

se·cret  (skrt)

adj.

1. Kept hidden from knowledge or view; concealed.

2. Dependably discreet.

3. Operating in a hidden or confidential manner: a secret agent.

4. Not expressed; inward: their secret thoughts.

5. Not frequented; secluded: wandered about the secret byways of Paris.

6. Known or shared only by the initiated: secret rites.

7. Beyond ordinary understanding; mysterious.

8. Containing information, the unauthorized disclosure of which poses a grave threat to national security.

n.

1. Something kept hidden from others or known only to oneself or to a few.

2. Something that remains beyond understanding or explanation; a mystery.

3. A method or formula on which success is based: The secret of this dish is in the sauce.

4. Secret A variable prayer said after the Offertory and before the Preface in the Mass.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin scrtus, from past participle of scernere, to set aside : s-, apart; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots + cernere, to separate; see krei- in Indo-European roots.]

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secret·ly adv.

Synonyms: secret, stealthy, covert, clandestine, furtive, surreptitious, underhand
These adjectives mean deliberately hidden from view or knowledge. Secret is the most general: a desk with a secret compartment; secret negotiations.
Stealthy suggests quiet, cautious deceptiveness intended to escape notice: heard stealthy footsteps on the stairs.
Covert describes something that is concealed or disguised: protested covert actions undertaken by the CIA.
Clandestine implies stealth and secrecy for the concealment of an often illegal or improper purpose: clandestine intelligence operations.
Furtive suggests the slyness, shiftiness, and evasiveness of a thief: a menacing and furtive look to his eye.
Something surreptitious is stealthy, furtive, and often unseemly or unethical: the surreptitious mobilization of troops preparing for a sneak attack.
Underhand implies unfairness, deceit, or slyness as well as secrecy: achieved success by underhand methods.

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secret [ˈsiːkrɪt]

adj

1. kept hidden or separate from the knowledge of others Related adj cryptic

2. known only to initiates a secret password

3. hidden from general view or use a secret garden

4. able or tending to keep things private or to oneself

5. operating without the knowledge of outsiders a secret society

6. outside the normal range of knowledge

n

1. something kept or to be kept hidden

2. something unrevealed; mystery

3. an underlying explanation, reason, etc., that is not apparent the secret of success

4. a method, plan, etc., known only to initiates

5. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Liturgy a variable prayer, part of the Mass, said by the celebrant after the offertory and before the preface

6. in the secret. among the people who know a secret

[via Old French from Latin sēcrētus concealed, from sēcernere to sift; see secern]

secretly  adv

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See: security classification.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	secret - something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on); "the combination to the safe was a secret"; "he tried to keep his drinking a secret" info, information - a message received and understood confidence - a secret that is confided or entrusted to another; "everyone trusted him with their confidences"; "the priest could not reveal her confidences" open secret - something that is supposed to be secret but is generally known; "their love affair was an open secret" trade secret - a secret (method or device or formula) that gives a manufacturer an advantage over the competition
	2.	secret - information known only to a special group; "the secret of Cajun cooking" arcanum info, information - a message received and understood esoterica - secrets known only to an initiated minority cabala, cabbala, cabbalah, kabala, kabbala, kabbalah, qabala, qabalah - an esoteric or occult matter resembling the Kabbalah that is traditionally secret countersign, password, watchword, parole, word - a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group; "he forgot the password"
	3.	secret - something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained; "how it got out is a mystery"; "it remains one of nature's secrets" closed book, enigma, mystery perplexity - trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
Adj.	1.	secret - not open or public; kept private or not revealed; "a secret formula"; "secret ingredients"; "secret talks" concealed - hidden on any grounds for any motive; "a concealed weapon"; "a concealed compartment in his briefcase"
	2.	secret - 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" clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hush-hush, undercover, underground, surreptitious, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels"
	3.	secret - not openly made known; "a secret marriage"; "a secret bride" unavowed unacknowledged - not recognized or admitted
	4.	secret - communicated covertly; "their secret signal was a wink"; "secret messages" covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels"
	5.	secret - not expressed; "secret (or private) thoughts" private inward - relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts; "a concern with inward reflections"
	6.	secret - designed to elude detection; "a hidden room or place of concealment such as a priest hole"; "a secret passage"; "the secret compartment in the desk" hidden concealed - hidden on any grounds for any motive; "a concealed weapon"; "a concealed compartment in his briefcase"
	7.	secret - hidden from general view or use; "a privy place to rest and think"; "a secluded romantic spot"; "a secret garden" privy, secluded private - confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life"
	8.	secret - (of information) given in confidence or in secret; "this arrangement must be kept confidential"; "their secret communications" confidential private - confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life"
	9.	secret - indulging only covertly; "a secret alcoholic" covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels"
	10.	secret - having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding; "mysterious symbols"; "the mystical style of Blake"; "occult lore"; "the secret learning of the ancients" mystic, occult, orphic, mysterious, mystical esoteric - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories"
	11.	secret - the next to highest level of official classification for documents classified - official classification of information or documents; withheld from general circulation; "thousands of classified documents have now been declassified"

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secret

adjective

1. undisclosed, unknown, confidential, underground, classified, undercover, unpublished, top secret, under wraps, unrevealed Soldiers have been training at a secret location.

2. concealed, hidden, disguised, covered, camouflaged, unseen It has a secret compartment hidden behind the magical mirror.
concealed obvious, apparent, visible, manifest, unconcealed

3. undercover, covert, furtive, shrouded, behind someone's back, conspiratorial, underhand, hush-hush (informal), surreptitious, cloak-and-dagger, backstairs I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
undercover open, public, disclosed, candid, unconcealed, manifest, overt

4. secretive, reserved, withdrawn, close, deep, quiet, silent, discreet, enigmatic, reticent, taciturn, cagey (informal), introverted, unforthcoming, tight-lipped the secret man behind the masks
secretive open, frank, candid, public

5. mysterious, cryptic, abstruse, classified, esoteric, occult, clandestine, arcane, recondite, cabbalistic a secret code
mysterious well-known, straightforward, exoteric

noun

1. private affair, confidence, skeleton in the cupboard I can't tell you; it's a secret.

2. key, answer, formula, recipe The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing.

3. mystery, question, puzzle, paradox, problem, question mark, enigma, conundrum The past is riddled with deep dark secrets.

in secret secretly, surreptitiously, slyly, behind closed doors, incognito, by stealth, in camera, huggermugger (archaic) Dan found out that I'd been meeting my ex-boyfriend in secret.

Related words
adjective cryptic

Quotations
"They have a skeleton in their closet" [William Makepeace Thackeray The Newcomes]
"I know that's a secret, for it's whispered every where" [William Congreve Love for Love]
"For secrets are edged tools,"
"And must be kept from children and from fools" [John Dryden Sir Martin Mar-All]

Translations

secret [ˈsiːkrɪt]

A. ADJ [plan, ingredient, admirer, mission] → secreto; [information, document] → secreto, confidencial; [drinker, drug addict] → a escondidas
it's all highly secret → todo es de lo más secreto
to keep sth secret → mantener algo en secreto
to keep sth secret from sb → ocultar algo a algn
they held a secret meeting → mantuvieron una reunión en secreto

B. N → secreto m
the secrets of nature → los misterios de la naturaleza
to do sth in secret → hacer algo en secreto or a escondidas
to be in on the secret → estar en el secreto, estar al corriente
to keep a secret → guardar un secreto
to keep sth a secret from sb → ocultar algo a algn
to let sb into a/the secret → contar or revelar a algn un/el secreto
it's no secret that → no es ningún secreto que ...
there's no secret about it → esto no tiene nada de secreto
to have no secrets from sb → no tener secretos para algn
to make no secret of sth → no ocultar algo
to remain a secret → seguir siendo un secreto
to tell sb a secret → contar un secreto a algn
the secret the secret is to + INFIN → el secreto consiste en + infin
the secret of success → el secreto del éxito
see also open A9
see also state C

C. CPD secret agent N → agente mf secreto/a, espía mf
secret drawer N → cajón m secreto or oculto
secret police N → policía f secreta
secret service N → servicio m secreto
secret society N → sociedad f secreta
secret weapon N (lit, fig) → arma f secreta

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secret [ˈsiːkrɪt]

adj

[meeting, mission, talks, information, location, documents] → secret/ète
a secret mission → une mission secrète
keep it secret → n'en parle à personne
to keep sth secret from sb → cacher qch à qn, ne pas révéler qch à qn
to be a secret drinker → boire en cachette

[passage, drawer, door] → secret/ète

[vote, ballot] → secret/ète

n

(gen) → secret m
It's a secret → C'est un secret.
Can you keep a secret? → Tu sais garder un secret?
to make no secret of sth → ne pas faire mystère de qch
in secret → en secret

(= way of achieving sth) → secret m
the secret of success → le secret du succès
the secret of staying young → le secret pour rester jeune
secret agent n → agent m secret

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secret

adj → geheim; pocket → versteckt; drinker, admirer, ambition → heimlich; ballot, vote → geheim; a secret door → eine verborgene Tür, eine Geheimtür; the secret ingredient → die geheimnisvolle Zutat; (fig, of success etc) → die Zauberformel; to keep something secret (from somebody) → etw (vor jdm) geheim halten; it’s all highly secret → es ist alles streng geheim; she was a secret drug addict → sie verheimlichte ihre Drogensucht

n → Geheimnis nt; to keep somebody/something a secret (from somebody) → jdn/etw (vor jdm) geheim halten; to tell somebody a secret → jdm ein Geheimnis anvertrauen or (give away) → verraten; open secret → offenes Geheimnis; in secret → im Geheimen; I told you that in secret or as a secret → ich habe Ihnen das im Vertrauen erzählt; they always met in secret → sie trafen sich immer heimlich; (group etc) → sie hatten immer geheime Versammlungen; she pretended to hate London, but in secret she loved the city → sie gab vor, London zu hassen, aber insgeheim liebte sie die Stadt; to be in on the secret → (in das Geheimnis) eingeweiht sein; to let somebody in on or into a secret → jdn in ein Geheimnis einweihen; there’s no secret about it → das ist kein Geheimnis; it’s no secret that … → es ist kein Geheimnis, dass …; to keep a secret → ein Geheimnis für sich behalten; can you keep a secret? → kannst du schweigen?; to make no secret of something → kein Geheimnis or keinen Hehl aus etw machen; the secret of success → das Erfolgsgeheimnis; the secret of being a good teacher → das Geheimnis eines guten Lehrers; I have no secrets from you → ich habe keine Geheimnisse vor dir

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secret:

secret police

n → Geheimpolizei f

secret service

n → Geheimdienst m

secret society

n → Geheimgesellschaft f

secret weapon

n (lit, fig) → Geheimwaffe f

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secret [ˈsiːkrɪt]

1. adj → segreto/a
to keep sth secret (from sb) → tenere qc nascosto (a qn)
keep it secret → che rimanga un segreto

2. n → segreto
to keep a secret → mantenere un segreto
to let sb into a secret → mettere qn a parte di un segreto, confidare un segreto a qn
to make no secret of sth → non far mistero di qc
to do sth in secret → fare qc in segreto or segretamente

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secret

adj secret [ˈsiːkrit]

hidden from, unknown to, or not told to, other people a secret agreement; He kept his illness secret from everybody. geheim, verskuil سِر، سِرّي таен tajný hemmelig geheim μυστικός, κρυφός, απόρρητος secreto salajane سري salainen secret סוֹדִי क्षण tajan, skrovit titkos rahasia leyndur, leynilegur segreto 秘密の 비밀의 slaptas, paslėptas slepens rahsia geheim hemmelig, skjult tajny, trzymany w tajemnicy secreto se­cret, ascuns тайный, секретный tajný tajen tajni hemlig ความลับ gizli 秘密的 таємний, секретний راز thầm kín, bí mật 秘密的

n

1 something which is, or must be kept, secret The date of their marriage is a secret; industrial secrets. geheim سِر тайна tajnost; tajemství hemmelighed; -hemmelighed das Geheimnis μυστικό secreto saladus پنهان salaisuus secret סוֹד रहस्य tajna, povjerljiv podatak titok rahasia leyndarmál segreto 秘密 기밀 paslaptis noslēpums rahsia geheim hemmelighet sekret, tajemnica segredo secret секрет, тайна tajomstvo, záhada tajnost tajna hemlighet เก็บเป็นความลับ sır 秘密 таємниця خفیہ điều bí mật 秘密

2 a hidden explanation I wish I knew the secret of her success. geheim سِر، التَّفْسير الخَفي тайна tajemství hemmelighed das Geheimnis μυστικό, κρυφή αιτία secreto saladus رمز salaisuus secret סוֹד मर्म tajna titok rahasia leyndardómur segreto 秘けつ 비밀 paslaptis noslēpums rahsia geheim hemmelighet sekret segredo secret секрет tajomstvo skrivnost tajna hemlighet เคล็ดลับ sır 秘訣 секрет راز bí quyết 秘诀

n secrecy

the state of being or the act of keeping secret. geheimhouding سِريَّه потайност mlčenlivost; utajení hemmeligholdelse die Heimlichkeit μυστικότητα secreto, reserva saladus, salajashoidmine رازداري salaisuus, vaitiolo secret סוֹדִיוּת रहस्य, गोपनियता tajnost, čuvanje tajne titoktartás kerahasiaan leynd segretezza 秘密 비밀로 되어 있음 slapukavimas, slapumas slepenība menyimpan rahsia geheimhouding hemmeligholdelse dyskrecja sigilo secret секретность tajnosť molk tajnost sekretess, hemlighetsfullhet การเก็บไว้เป็นความลับ gizlilik, sır saklama 秘密狀態，保密 таємниця; скритність رازداری tính kín đáo 秘密

adj secretive [-tiv]

inclined to conceal one's activities, thoughts etc secretive behaviour. geheimsinnig كَتوم، يُبالِغ الكِتْمان потаен uzavřený hemmelighedsfuld heimlichtuerisch κρυψίνους, μυστικοπαθής reservado, callado, cauteloso salalik مرموز salaileva réservé מִתעַטֵף בְּסוֹדִיוּת रहस्यमय tajnovit, šutljiv titkoló(d)zó berahasia laumulegur, pukurslegur riservato 隠しだてをする 비밀스런 slapukaujantis, slapus (par cilvēku) noslēgts; noslēpumains berahsia heimelijk hemmelighetsfull, taus tajemniczy sigiloso secretos, rezervat скрытный tajnostkársky prikrivajoč tajanstven hemlighetsfull ลึกลับ; ชอบซ่อนเร้น ağzı sıkı, sır saklayan 遮遮掩掩的 таємничий, потайний رازدارانہ thích giữ bí mật 遮遮掩掩的，偷偷摸摸的

adv secretively

geheimsinnig بِكِتْمان скрито rezervovaně hemmelighedsfuldt heimlichtuerisch με μυστικοπάθεια cautelosamente salalikult مخفيانه salailevasti d'une façon très réservée בַּחֲשַאי रहस्यमयता से tajnovito titokzatoskodóan dengan berahasia laumulega in maniera riservata 秘密に 숨기고 slapčia noslēgti; noslēpumaini secara berahsia heimelijk hemmelighetsfullt, taust tajemniczo sigilosamente secret, ascuns скрытно rezervovane prikrivajoče tajanstveno hemlighetsfullt อย่างซ่อนเร้น gizlilik içinde, sır vermeden 遮遮掩掩地 непомітно; таємно رازداری سے thích giữ bí mật 遮遮掩掩地

n secretiveness

geheimsinnigheid كِتْمانِيَّه прикритост tajnůstkářství hemmelighedsfuldhed die Geheimnistuerei κρυψίνοια, μυστικοπάθεια reserva salalikkus پنخان كاري salaperäisyys réserve מַעֲטֶה סוֹדִיוּת गोपनशीलता tajnovitost, tajanstvenost titkoló(d)zás rahasia pukur riservatezza 隠しだて 터놓지 않음 slapukavimas noslēgtība; (izturēšanās) noslēpumainība sifat yang berahsia heimelijkheid hemmelighetsfullhet tajemniczość sigilo rezervă скрытность tajnostkárstvo skrivnostnost tajanstvenost hemlighetsfullhet ความลับ ağzı sıkılık 遮掩 непомітність; таємність رازداری tính thích giữ bí mật 遮掩

adv secretly

in such a way that others do not know, see etc He secretly copied the numbers down in his notebook. in die geheim سِرّاً тайно potají hemmeligt heimlich μυστικά, κρυφά en secreto salaja محرمانه salaa secrètement בּסוֹדִיוּת गुप्त रूप से, छिपे-छिपे, चोरी-छिपे tajno, potajno titokban dengan diam-diam leynilega, í leyni segretamente こっそり 비밀리에 slapčia slepus secara rahsia heimelijk hemmelig w tajemnicy em segredo în secret тайно potajomky skrivoma tajno i hemlighet อย่างลับ ๆ gizlice 秘密地 непомітно; таємно خفیہ طور پر bí mật, riêng tư 秘密地

secret agent

a spy. spioen مُخْبِر، وَكيل سِرّي шпионин špión, -ka hemmelig agent der/die Geheimdiplomat(in), der Agent μυστικός πράκτορας agente secreto salaagent جاسوس vakoilija agent secret, agente secrète סוֹכֵן סָמוּי गुप्तचर tajni agent titkos ügynök mata-mata leyniþjónustumaður agente segreto スパイ 첩자 slaptasis agentas slepens aģents ejen rahsia geheim agent hemmelig agent tajny agent agente secreto spion, agent secret тайный агент špión, -ka tajni agent tajni agent hemlig agent สายลับ casus 特務 секретний агент خفیہ ایجنٹ، جاسوس điệp viên 特务

secret police

a police force whose activities are kept secret and which is concerned mostly with political crimes. geheime polisie شُرْطَةٌ سِرِّيَّه полицаи под прикритие tajná policie hemmeligt politi der Geheimdienst μυστική αστυνομία policía secreta salapolitsei پليس مخفي salainen poliisi police secrète מִשטָרָה חֲשָאִית tajna policija titkosrendőrség polisi rahasia leynilögregla polizia segreta 秘密警察 비밀경찰 slaptoji policija slepenpolicija polis rahsia geheime politie hemmelig politi, etterretningstjeneste tajna policja polícia secreta poliţie secretă тайная полиция tajná polícia tajna policija tajna policija hemlig[] polis[] ตำรวจสืบราชการลับ gizli polis 秘密警察 таємна поліція خفیہ پولیس cảnh sát mật 秘密警察

in secret

secretly This must all be done in secret. in die geheim سِرّاً тайно v tajnosti i hemmelighed im Geheimen (στα) κρυφά en secreto salaja محرمانه vaivihkaa en/dans le secret בְּסוֹד गुप्त रूप से tajno, u tajnosti titokban diam-diam leynilega; á laun, í laumi in segreto 秘密で 비밀리에 slaptai slepenībā secara rahsia in het geheim hemmelig, i det skjulte w tajemnicy em segredo în secret секретно, тайно v tajnosti v tajnosti tajno i hemlighet อย่างลับ ๆ gizlice 暗地裡 у секреті خفیہ طور پر bí mật 暗地里

keep a secret

not to tell (something secret) to anyone else You can't trust her to keep a secret. geheim hou يُحافِظ على السِّر пазя тайна zachovat tajemství holde på en hemmelighed ein Geheimnis für sich behalten κρατώ μυστικό guardar un secreto saladust hoidma راز نگه داشتن pitää salaisuus garder un secret לִשמוֹר סוֹד राज रखना čuvati tajnu titkot tart menyimpan rahasia þegja yfir leyndarmáli mantenere un segreto 秘密を守る 비밀에 부치다 saugoti paslaptį glabāt/turēt noslēpumā/slepenībā simpan rahsia een geheim bewaren holde på en hemmelighet dochować tajemnicy guardar um segredo a păstra un secret хранить тайну zachovať tajomstvo obdržati skrivnost čuvati tajnu bevara en hemlighet เก็บไว้เป็นความลับ sır saklamak, kimseye söylememek 保密 зберігати таємницю رازداری برقرار رکھنا giữ bí mật 保密

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secret → سِرّ, سِريّ tajemství, tajný hemmelig, hemmelighed geheim, Geheimnis μυστικό, μυστικός secreto salainen, salaisuus secret tajna, tajni segreto 秘密, 秘密の 비밀, 비밀의 geheim hemmelig, hemmelighet sekret, tajny secreto, segredo секрет, тайный hemlig, hemlighet เป็นความลับ, ความลับ gizli, sır bí mật, điều bí mật 秘密, 秘密的