Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “clandestine” come from?

clandestine (Latin) comes 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 (Latin): vocative masculine singular of clandēstīnus

Definitions

  1. vocative masculine singular of clandēstīnus

Ancestry of “clandestine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinclandestinusclandestine, secret, concealed
2Latinclam-desecretly
3Latinclamclandestinely, secretly, privately; stealthily;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱl-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →