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clandestine

[ klan-des-tin ]
/ klænˈdɛs tɪn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR clandestine ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Words related to clandestine

covert, illicit, fraudulent, surreptitious, underground, furtive, hush-hush, hidden, artful, cloak-and-dagger, closet, concealed, foxy, illegitimate, private, sneaky, stealthy, undercover, underhand, under-the-counter

Words nearby clandestine

clamshell, clamshell door, clamworm, clan, clancy, clandestine, clang, clang association, clanger, clanging, clangor

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, adverbclan·des·tine·ness, clan·des·tin·i·ty, nounun·clan·des·tine·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples 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, adverbclandestineness, noun

Word Origin for clandestine

C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012