clandesti-, clandest-

(Latin: secret, secrecy; hidden, concealed, private)

clandescent (adjective), more clandescent, most clandescent
1. Used as an alternative to clandestine, meaning "secret"; however, it could not be found in any dictionary, but it is widely used; especially, on the World Wide Web.
2. Etymologically, it should mean "becoming more secret" because -escent is a suffix signifying "beginning, beginning to be" or "becoming".
clandestine (adjective), more clandestine, most clandestine
1. A reference to that which needs to be concealed, usually because it is illegal or unauthorized: The spy carried clandestine messages in the rim of his hat and no one suspected what he was doing.
2. Conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods: Most nations have been conducting clandestine intelligence operations; however, the U.S. recently was caught in the act.
3. Characteristic of keeping or doing something in secret, often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose: Some of the movies of Peter Sellers are detective stories which, though he sneaks around in a clandestine manner, are very funny.
3. Etymology: from about 1566, from Latin clandestinus, "secret, hidden"; from clam, "secretly"; which came from the basic element of celare, "to hide, to conceal".
Descriptive of doing something in secrecy.
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clandestine chemistry (s) (noun), clandestine chemistries (pl)
Generally chemistry that is carried out in illegal drug laboratories, but it can also include any kind of laboratory operation carried on in secret.
clandestine operation (s) (noun), clandestine operations (pl)
A government, or military, intelligence operation so planned and executed so as to insure concealment.
clandestinely (adverb), more clandestinely, most clandestinely
1. A reference to something that is done secretly or privately.
2. Relating to something that is conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods.
clandestineness (s) (noun) (no plural)
Marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy; surreptitiousness; that is, done, made, or acquired by stealth which is intended to avoid observation by others.
clandestinity (s) (noun) (no plural)
That which is done in, or executed with, secrecy or concealment; especially, for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious.
nonclandestine (adjective), more nonclandestine, most nonclandestine
Descriptive of doing something openly without being secretive.
vox clandestina (Latin idiom)
Translation: "A clandestine, or hidden, voice; a whisper."

A cross reference of other word family units that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "secret, hidden, confidential, concealed": ceal-; crypto-; myster-; occult-; orgy; stego-, stegano-.