clandestine

[ klan-des-tin ]
/ klænˈdɛs tɪn /

adjective

characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious: Their clandestine meetings went undiscovered for two years.

Origin of clandestine

1560–70; < Latin clandestīnus, equivalent to *clande, *clamde, variant of clam secretly (with -de adv. particle) + -stīnus, probably after intestīnus internal; see intestine

OTHER WORDS FROM clandestine

clan·des·tine·ly, adverb clan·des·tine·ness, clan·des·tin·i·ty, noun un·clan·des·tine·ly, adverb

Words nearby clandestine

Example sentences from the Web for clandestine

British Dictionary definitions for clandestine

clandestine
/ (klænˈdɛstɪn) /

adjective

secret and concealed, often for illicit reasons; furtive

Derived forms of clandestine

clandestinely, adverb clandestineness, noun

Word Origin for clandestine

C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide