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
SYNONYMS FOR clandestine
OTHER WORDS FROM clandestine
clan·des·tine·ly, adverb clan·des·tine·ness, clan·des·tin·i·ty, noun un·clan·des·tine·ly, adverbWords nearby clandestine
clamshell,
clamshell door,
clamworm,
clan,
clancy,
clandestine,
clang,
clang association,
clanger,
clanging,
clangor
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, nounWord Origin for clandestine
C16: from Latin
clandestīnus, from
clam secretly; related to Latin
celāre to hide