Where does “secretiveness” come from?
Secretiveness derives from English secretive plus the Middle English suffix -nesse, from Old English -nes, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -inassuz, denoting the quality or state of being secretive.
secretiveness (English): The state or characteristic of being secretive
Definitions
- The state or characteristic of being secretive
Ancestry of “secretiveness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | secretive | Having an inclination to secrecy; Relating to... |
| 2 | English | secrete | separated; To extract a substance from blood,... |
| 3 | English | Secret | A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden |
| 4 | Middle English | secrette | — |
| 5 | Old French | secret | — |
| 6 | Latin | sēcrētus | put apart, sundered, severed, separated, having been separated |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἀγωγός | leading, guiding; guide, escort; leading to |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἄγω | to lead, fetch, bring along (a living creature), take with |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | ágō | to lead, to guide |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |