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Contents
clandestine
Overview
This page has 6 definitions of clandestine with English translations in 4 languages. Clandestine is an adjective and noun. Examples of how to use clandestine in a sentence are shown. Also define these 14 related words and terms: kept, secret, conceal, illicit, covert, furtive, hush-hush, secretive, undercover, Freemasonry, regular, clandestin, clandestino, and clandestinus.
English
Etymology
From Latin clandestīnus (“secret, concealed”); compare French clandestin.
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: clan‧des‧tine
- IPA(key): /klænˈdɛst(a)ɪn/, /ˈklændɪst(a)ɪn/, /ˈklændəst(a)ɪn/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛstɪn
Adjective
clandestine (comparative more clandestine, superlative most clandestine)
- Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.
- Synonyms: covert, furtive, hush-hush, secret, secretive, undercover; see also Thesaurus:covert
- clandestine military operations
- 1793, Charlotte Smith, chapter 1, in The Old Manor House, volume 3:
- Monimia, who while she yielded to his earnest entreaties had always felt, from the natural rectitude of her understanding, the impropriety of their clandestine correspondence, would, he feared, be more than ever sensible of her indiscretion, when she found that a servant was entrusted with it...
- 1818, Jane Austen, chapter 31, in Northanger Abbey:
- Whether the torments of absence were softened by a clandestine correspondence, let us not inquire. Mr. and Mrs. Morland never did.
- 1878, Thomas Hardy, chapter 11, in The Return of the Native:
- Wildeve's clandestine plan with her was to take a little gravel in his hand and hold it to the crevice at the top of the window shutter, which was on the outside, so that it should fall with a gentle rustle, resembling that of a mouse, between shutter and glass.
- 1912, G. K. Chesterton, chapter 9, in Manalive:
- Lady Bullingdon could not, of course, countenance such an arrangement for a moment, and the two unhappy persons escaped for a clandestine marriage.
- 1922, H. P. Lovecraft, Herbert West: Reanimator:
- Bodies were always a nuisance -- even the small guinea-pig bodies from the slight clandestine experiments in West’s room at the boarding-house.
- 1924, Herman Melville, chapter 13, in Billy Budd:
- Probably, the Master-at-arms' clandestine persecution of Billy was started to try the temper of the man...
- 2003, Trivium (music), “Fugue”, in Ember To Inferno:
- As I stand at the edge of existence; nameless shores of infinity. Perpetual unbirth unraveling distance, clandestine truths unveiled.
- 2004 — Penny Arcade
- In my imagination, all work place encounters between men and women result in clandestine sex.
- 2005 — Stewart Lee, 90's Comedian DVD
- And I don't want anyone to think I dislike Catholicism because I don't. It's actually my favourite form of clandestine global evil.
Kept definition
simple past tense and past participle of keep
Secret definition
A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden. (1 of 7 secret definitions)
- (Freemasonry, of a person or lodge) Not recognized as a regular member.
Regular definition
Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular). (1 of 17 regular definitions)
Derived terms
Translations
done or kept in secret
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French
Adjective
clandestine
- feminine singular of clandestin
Clandestin definition
clandestine
Italian
Adjective
clandestine f pl
- feminine plural of clandestino
Clandestino definition
clandestine
Noun
clandestine f pl
Latin
Adjective
clandēstīne
- vocative masculine singular of clandēstīnus
Clandestinus definition
clandestine, secret, concealed