Where does “clandestine” come from?
Clandestine comes from French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, derived from Latin clam-de meaning secretly or in hiding.
clandestine (English): Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an...
Definitions
- Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an...
Ancestry of “clandestine”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | clandestinus | clandestine, secret, concealed |
| 2 | Latin | clam-de | secretly |
| 3 | Latin | clam | clandestinely, secretly, privately; stealthily;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱl- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |