Where does “clandestine” come from?
clandestine (French) comes from French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from Latin clam-de, from Latin clam, from Proto-Indo-European ḱl-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.
clandestine (French): feminine singular of clandestin
Definitions
- feminine singular of clandestin
Ancestry of “clandestine”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | clandestin | clandestine |
| 2 | Latin | clandestinus | clandestine, secret, concealed |
| 3 | Latin | clam-de | secretly |
| 4 | Latin | clam | clandestinely, secretly, privately; stealthily;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱl- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |