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Webster 1913 Edition

Secret

Se′cret

,
Adj.
[F.
secret
(cf. Sp. & Pg.
secreto
, It.
secreto
,
segreto
), fr. L.
secretus
, p. p. of
secernere
to put apart, to separate. See
Certain
, and cf.
Secrete
,
Secern
.]
1.
Hidden; concealed;
as,
secret
treasure;
secret
plans; a
secret
vow
.
Shak.
The
secret
things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us.
Deut. xxix. 29.
2.
Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded.
There,
secret
in her sapphire cell,
He with the Nais wont to dwell.
Fenton.
3.
Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive.
[R.]
Secret
Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter.
Shakespeare
4.
Separate; distinct.
[Obs.]
They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly
secret
from matter.
Cudworth.
Syn. – Hidden; concealed; secluded; retired; unseen; unknown; private; obscure; recondite; latent; covert; clandestine; privy. See
Hidden
.

Se′cret

,
Noun.
[F.
secret
(cf. Pr.
secret
, Sp. & Pg.
secreto
, It.
secreto
,
segreto
), from L.
secretum
. See
Secret
,
Adj.
]
1.
Something studiously concealed; a thing kept from general knowledge; what is not revealed, or not to be revealed.
To tell our own
secrets
is often folly; to communicate those of others is treachery.
Rambler.
2.
A thing not discovered; what is unknown or unexplained; a mystery.
All
secrets
of the deep, all nature’s works.
Milton.
3.
pl.
The parts which modesty and propriety require to be concealed; the genital organs.
In secret
,
in a private place; in privacy or secrecy; in a state or place not seen; privately.
Bread eaten
in secret
is pleasant.
Prov. ix. 17.

Se′cret

,
Verb.
T.
To keep secret.
[Obs.]
Bacon.

Webster 1828 Edition

Secret

SE'CRET

,
Adj.
[L. secretus. This is given as the participle of secerno, but is radically a different word. The radical sense of seg is to separate, as in L. seco, to cut off; and not improbably this word is contracted into the Latin se, a prefix in segrego, separo, &c.]
1. Properly, separate; hence, hid; concealed from the notice or knowledge of all persons except the individual or individuals concerned.
I have a secret errand to thee, O king. Judges 3.
2. Unseen; private; secluded; being in retirement.
There secret in her sapphire cell,
He with the Nais wont to dwell. Fenton.
3. Removed from sight; private; unknown.
Abide in a secret place, and hide thyself. I Sam. 19.
4. Keeping secrets; faithful to secrets entrusted; as secret Romans. [Unusual.]
5. Private; affording privacy.
6. Occult; not seen; not apparent; as the secret operations of physical causes.
7. Known to God only.

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