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.
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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, adverbclan·des·tine·ness, clan·des·tin·i·ty, nounun·clan·des·tine·ly, adverbWords nearby clandestine
clamshell, clamshell door, clamworm, clan, clancy, clandestine, clang, clang association, clanger, clanging, clangor
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
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, adverbclandestineness, nounWord Origin for clandestine
C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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