Secret Definition

sēkrĭt
secrets
adjective
Kept from public knowledge or from the knowledge of a certain person or persons.
Webster's New World
Not expressed; inward.
Secret desires.
American Heritage
Keeping one's affairs to oneself; secretive.
Webster's New World
Concealed from sight or notice; hidden.
A secret drawer.
Webster's New World
Withdrawn, remote, or secluded.
A secret hideaway.
Webster's New World
noun
secrets
Something known only to a certain person or persons and purposely kept from the knowledge of others.
Webster's New World
Something not revealed, understood, or explained; mystery.
The secret of Stonehenge.
Webster's New World
A method or formula for doing or making something well, especially when not widely known.
The secret of this dish is in the sauce.
American Heritage
The true cause or explanation, regarded as not obvious.
The secret of one's success.
Webster's New World
A prayer said just before the Preface of the Mass.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • the unknown
  • magic number
  • an unknown
  • classified information
  • something forbidden
  • puzzle
  • privileged information
  • private matter
  • something hidden
  • something veiled
  • deep mystery
  • enigma
  • mystery
  • personal matter
  • code
Antonyms:
verb
To make or keep secret. [from late 16th c.]
Wiktionary
idiom
in secret
  • Without others knowing.
American Heritage
in secret
  • without the knowledge of others; secretly
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Secret

Noun

Singular:
secret
Plural:
secrets

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Secret

Origin of Secret

  • Middle English secrette, from Old French secret, from Latin sÄ“crÄ“tus (“separated, hidden"), from ptp of sÄ“cernō (“separate, to set aside, sunder out"), from Latin cernō, from Proto-Indo-European *krey- . Or from Latin sÄ“cÅ«rus (“untroubled, carefree"), from cura. Compare Russian cкрытый, сокрытый ('hidden', 'covered', from Russian сокрыть ('to hide', 'to conceal'), which in turn derives from Russian крыть ('to cover')).

    From Wiktionary

  • Displaced native Middle English diȝel "secret" (from Old English dÄ«egol "secret"), Middle English derne, deorne "dark, hidden, secret" (from Old English dierne "dark, hidden, secret"), Middle English roune, rowne "secret, secret counsel" (from Old English rÅ«n), Middle English hidel "secrecy, secret" (from Old English hȳdels "hiding-stow").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin sēcrētus from past participle of sēcernere to set aside sē- apart s(w)e- in Indo-European roots cernere to separate krei- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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