Secret
(Se"cret) a. [F. secret (cf. Sp. & Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), fr. L. secretus, p. p. of
secernere to put apart, to separate. See Certain, and cf. Secrete, Secern.]
1. Hidden; concealed; as, secret treasure; secret plans; a secret vow. Shak.
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us.
Deut. xxix. 29. 2. Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded.
There, secret in her sapphire cell,
He with the Naïs wont to dwell.
Fenton. 3. Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive. [R.]
Secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter.
Shak. 4. Separate; distinct. [Obs.]
They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly secret from matter.
Cudworth. Syn. — Hidden; concealed; secluded; retired; unseen; unknown; private; obscure; recondite; latent; covert; clandestine; privy.
See Hidden.
Secret
(Se"cret), n. [F. secret (cf. Pr. secret, Sp. & Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), from L. secretum.
See Secret, a.]
1. Something studiously concealed; a thing kept from general knowledge; what is not revealed, or not to
be revealed.
To tell our own secrets is often folly; to communicate those of others is treachery.
Rambler.
2. A thing not discovered; what is unknown or unexplained; a mystery.
All secrets of the deep, all nature's works.
Milton. 3. pl. The parts which modesty and propriety require to be concealed; the genital organs.
In secret, in a private place; in privacy or secrecy; in a state or place not seen; privately.
Bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Prov. ix. 17. Secret
(Se"cret) v. t. To keep secret. [Obs.] Bacon.
Secretage
(Se"cret*age) n. [F.] A process in which mercury, or some of its salts, is employed to impart
the property of felting to certain kinds of furs. Ure.
Secretarial
(Sec`re*ta"ri*al) a. Of or pertaining to a secretary; befitting a secretary. [R.]
Secretarial, diplomatic, or other official training.
Carlyle. Secretariat
(Sec`re*ta"ri*at Sec`re*ta"ri*ate) n. [F. secrétariat.] The office of a secretary; the place where
a secretary transacts business, keeps records, etc.
Secretary
(Sec"re*ta*ry) n.; pl. Secretaries [F. secrétaire (cf. Pr. secretari, Sp. & Pg. secretario,
It. secretario, segretario) LL. secretarius, originally, a confidant, one intrusted with secrets, from L.
secretum a secret. See Secret, a. & n.]
