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secretly

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
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.

[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.]

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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.secretly - in secrecy; not openly; "met secretly to discuss the invasion plans"; "the children secretly went to the movies when they were supposed to be at the library"; "they arranged to meet in secret"
2.secretly - not openly; inwardly; "they were secretly delighted at his embarrassment"; "hoped secretly she would change her mind"

secretly
adverb
1. in secret, privately, surreptitiously, quietly, covertly, behind closed doors, in confidence, in your heart, furtively, in camera, confidentially, on the fly (slang, chiefly Brit.), stealthily, under the counter, clandestinely, unobserved, on the sly, in your heart of hearts, behind (someone's) back, in your innermost thoughts, on the q.t. (informal) secretly organized events
2. privately, in your heart of hearts, in your innermost thoughts I've often secretly wondered if I'd be happier without all this.
Translations
secretly [ˈsiːkrɪtlɪ] ADV [meet, plan, film] → en secreto, a escondidas; [marry] → en secreto; [hope, want] → en el fondo
she was secretly relieved/pleaseden su fuero interno sintió alivio/estaba contenta

secretly [ˈsiːkrɪtli] adven secret, secrètement
secret police npolice f secrète
secret service n
(gen)services mpl secrets
(US) the Secret Service → les services mpl chargés de la protection du président
secret weapon narme f secrète

secretly
adv (= in secrecy)im Geheimen; meet, marry, filmheimlich; (= privately)insgeheim, im Stillen; he was secretly concernedinsgeheim war er beunruhigt

secretly [ˈsiːkrətlɪ] advin segreto, segretamente
secretly [ˈsiːkrətlɪ] advin segreto, segretamente

secretly سِراً tajně hemmeligt heimlich κρυφά en secreto salaa secrètement tajno segretamente 秘密に 비밀히 in het geheim hemmelig potajemnie secretamente тайно i hemlighet อย่างลับๆ gizlice kín đáo 秘密地


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
And Duson died from a dose of that same poison, a packet of which you procured secretly from Emil Sachs.
At an early hour this morning she secretly left the house, and she has not been heard of since.
I should have remembered my position, and have put myself secretly on my guard.
 
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