In a hidden or concealed manner, without others knowing or being aware. Done in privacy or with deliberate concealment.
From Latin 'secretus' meaning 'set apart, hidden', from 'secernere' (to separate). The word evolved through Old French 'secret' into Middle English, maintaining its core meaning of separation from public knowledge.
Humans are uniquely equipped for secrecy among animals - we can mentally separate what we know from what we reveal. This capacity for strategic information management has been crucial to human cooperation and survival, yet it's also the source of much drama and intrigue!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.