sub rosa

American  

[suhb roh-zuh] / sʌb ˈroʊ zə /

adverb

1. confidentially; secretly; privately.

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sub rosa British  

/ ˈrəʊzə /

adverb

1. in secret

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Etymology

Origin of sub rosa

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sub rosā literally, “under the rose,” from the ancient use of the rose at meetings as a symbol of the sworn confidence of the participants, based on the Greek myth that Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, who then gave the rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence and secrets, to ensure that Aphrodite’s dalliances remained hidden

Example Sentences

But she also has, beneath the top layers of this Christmas story she was asked to make by Oscar-winning auteur Alfonso Cuarón, her own sub rosa meanings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2023

The backbiting — and the sub rosa efforts to thwart their own president — led to constant personnel turnover, a dreary parade of firings, resignations and defenestrations.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2022

“There is a lot of sub rosa sanctions enforcement going on with U.S. officials at State and Treasury and others,” Mr. Klingner said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 1, 2020

One of Weinstein’s sub rosa retainers was an Israeli intelligence company called — no joke, Mr. Bond — Black Cube.

From Washington Post • Oct. 10, 2019

Just at present everything must be sub rosa, my darling.

From Norine's Revenge; Sir Noel's Heir by Fleming, May Agnes