† secreadj.n.
Obsolete.
A. adj. = secret adj. in various senses.
1. Not allowed to be revealed, hidden, occult.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [adjective]
secrec1386
mystica1398
mystical1516
dark1532
arcane1547
occulta1549
shadowish1561
abstruse1576
cryptical1588
shrouded (also involved, wrapped) in mysterya1616
mysterious1622
mysterial1630
cryptica1638
researched1653
rarefied1662
arcanalc1828
sphinx-like1837
sphinxine1845
abstrusive1848
Sphingine1925
c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 90 But I wol nat auowe that I seye And therfore keepe it secree I yow preye.
c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 84 And þay gyf hym þe prys of alle science, secre and heuenly.
c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 1675 This god is also messagere..For to report in special The secre thingis of the hevene.
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) viii. xxiv. 192/2 A ful precious stone,..Powder of which will discure anone, If it be drunke (though it be secree) Of maydenhed the broken chastitee.
2. secre seal. (a) A private seal of attestation affixed to a document; also figurative; (b) a seal fixed upon a closed letter or document.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > imprinting > sealing > [noun] > seal > as fastening
seala1272
secre seal1362
society > communication > indication > marking > imprinting > sealing > [noun] > seal > private
secre seal1362
secret seal1378
secretum1863
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 141 Heo may as muche do In a Mooneþ ones, As ȝoure secre seal [1377 B. iii. 145, 1393 C. iv. 183 secret seel] In Seuen score dayes.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. viii. 25 Bote vndur his secre seal [1377 B. vii. 23 secret seel; 1393 C. x. 27 secre seel] Treuþe sende a lettre.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. x. 138 The whiche arn lunatik lollares..For vnder godes secre seel here synnes ben ykeuered.
3.
a. Of a person: Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation; close, discreet.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adjective] > disposed to secrecy, secretive
dernOE
covert1340
secrec1385
secretc1440
mum1532
closec1540
whist1577
as silent as the grave1613
privatea1625
dark1650
uncommunicating1650
dry1681
uncommunicative1691
unexpansive1847
secretive1853
tight-lipped1876
cagey1909
zip-lipped1943
closet1948
coy1961
tight1977
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1528 And he was wis, hardy, secre, and ryche.
1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy i. 2001 Sche kepte hir cloos and wonderly secree, Þat by hir chere no man myȝt see What þat sche ment.
b. Characterized by reserve or secrecy. Phrase, in secre wyse.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adjective]
dernc897
dighela1000
hid?c1225
stillc1275
stillyc1275
covertc1303
secrec1374
secret1399
secretivec1470
covered1484
dark1532
underhid1532
hiddena1547
concealed1558
abstruse1576
unshewing1598
mystical1600
of secreta1616
mystica1625
subterraneous1652
researched1653
hugger-mugger1692
hidlingsa1810
sub rosa1824
cachet1837
cloak and dagger1841
theftuous1881
q.t.1910
closet1966
down-low1991
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adverb]
stillyc1000
dernlyc1175
dernea1200
privement?c1225
hidlingsa1250
in hidela1300
in scubardisa1300
stilla1300
hidel-likea1325
privyc1330
ywryȝeliche1340
in secre wysec1374
hidinglya1382
hidlya1382
in privy1384
closea1387
secrelyc1386
stalworthlya1400
covertlyc1400
secrec1405
in hidlings1422
secretly1447
secretementc1470
in secret1474
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
secret1539
underboard1548
closely1552
darkly1559
in secret wise1563
hiddenly1580
tectly1587
underwater1600
concealedly1622
underground1632
occultly1641
in petto1647
under the rosea1704
subterraneously1791
suppressedly1825
underfoot1860
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 744 In his counseyl tellinge That toucheth love that oughte be secree; For of him-self it wolde y-nough out-springe.
c1386 G. Chaucer Doctor's Tale 143 This Iuge vn-to this cherl his tale hath toold In secree wise.
1440 in Wars Eng. in France (1864) II. 307 Sende me worde, yn the most secre wyse.
4. Intimate, privy. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adjective] > entrusted with secrets
privya1393
derna1400
secret1470
secre?1553
private1601
conscious1609
confident of1659
fellow-knowing1662
confidant1816
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > [adjective] > conducted in private > of conversation, etc.
particular1442
secret?a1513
secre?1553
private1560
confidential1759
?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) i. l. 222 in Shorter Poems (1967) 22 Syne next her rayed..Xii. Damysylles..Quhilkis semyt of hyr consell most secre.
5. Of a place: Remote, retired, secluded. Also rarely of time, spent in seclusion.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > [adjective] > spent in seclusion
secrec1374
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > secluded place or place of seclusion > [adjective]
secrec1374
blindc1386
privatea1513
secret?a1513
shadowy1555
close1571
retired1593
retrait1603
sequestrate1632
recessful1646
recluse1650
reserved1653
secessive1653
coy1670
sequestrated1726
slya1764
secluded1798
shy1841
retiracied1856
undisprivacied1870
madding1874
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. i. pr. iv. 31 Thilke thinges that I hadde lerned of thee among my secree restingwhyles [L. inter secreta otia].
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 4056 I am callyd Dame Penaunce. The cheff wardeyn..Off thylke yle most secre; The wych..Ys yhyd with-Inne a man.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus i. f. 12v In hir chalmer quhilk ay was most secre.
6. quasi-adv. Secretly; without witnesses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adverb]
stillyc1000
dernlyc1175
dernea1200
privement?c1225
hidlingsa1250
in hidela1300
in scubardisa1300
stilla1300
hidel-likea1325
privyc1330
ywryȝeliche1340
in secre wysec1374
hidinglya1382
hidlya1382
in privy1384
closea1387
secrelyc1386
stalworthlya1400
covertlyc1400
secrec1405
in hidlings1422
secretly1447
secretementc1470
in secret1474
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
secret1539
underboard1548
closely1552
darkly1559
in secret wise1563
hiddenly1580
tectly1587
underwater1600
concealedly1622
underground1632
occultly1641
in petto1647
under the rosea1704
subterraneously1791
suppressedly1825
underfoot1860
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 401 To noon oother creature..Of this matere he dorste no word seyn Vnder his brist he baar it moore secree Than euere dide Panfilus for Galathee.
c1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 541 So it be doon secre that no man se.
B. n.
1. Something that is kept hidden or secret.
a. Something hidden from human understanding or knowledge; a divine or natural mystery.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > [noun] > hidden or mysterious affair
secrec1386
secret1390
arcanum1646
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [noun]
rounOE
mysteryc1384
sacramentc1384
secrec1386
secret1390
riddlec1400
concealment1598
arcanum1605
Sphinxa1610
abstrusity1632
cryptic1663
c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 894 For this science, and this konnyng, quod he, Is of the secree of the secretes pardee.
c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 4879 Ful of mystery and secres And many vnkouth prevites.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. lxxviii. 46 And þere weren shewed þee alle þe secrees of Nature.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xvii. l. 57 He is a fool that don wele as I have do, To knowen the Secrees of his Saviour.
b. A private or secret matter; = secret adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [noun] > something concealed, a secret
derna1000
counsel1377
secrec1386
dernheada1400
secretnessc1425
secrecyc1450
secret1450
concealment1598
reservation1612
cabal1631
recess1646
occult1648
reserve1680
state secret1822
reserving1844
inédit1910
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > [noun] > private matter or business
counsel1377
secrec1386
secret1450
chamber counsela1616
privatea1616
particulara1617
privacya1625
confidence1748
c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 31 But to hise wyues toolde he his secree.
c1400 Rom. Rose 5260 For tweyn in nombre is bet than three In every counsel and secree.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iv. 577 And couth secreis [1487 St. John's Cambr. secreis] rycht weill conceil.
2. A prayer in the Mass recited by the priest in a low voice; = secret adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > parts of service > prayer said in low voice > [noun]
secre1297
secret1387
secreta1737
society > faith > worship > prayer > kinds of prayer > [noun] > secret
secre1297
secret1387
secreta1737
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 12044 As he stod at is masse..Biuore þe weued in is bedes, at þe secre riȝt, Com sir gui de mountfort..& villiche him slou.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS xlvii. 541 Þen he biginnes his secre; Adoun þenne knele ȝe.
c1480 (a1400) SS. Cosmas & Damian 1 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 292 Of haly messe in þe secre syndry sanctis set we se.
3. Secrecy. in secree, in private, secretly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [noun]
dighelnessc1000
dernship?c1225
derna1250
concealmenta1325
hidnessc1330
hiddennessc1380
privy1384
secrenessc1386
secre1390
stillnessa1400
secretnessa1475
hodelnessec1475
scuggery?a1500
hugger-mugger1529
closeness1562
secrecy1563
privatenessa1586
covertness1592
hugger-mug1654
privacy1702
conspiracy of silence1865
hush-hush1973
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 62 He seith in open, fy! to Sinne, And in secre ther is no vice Of which that he nis a Norrice.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 403 Wallace with hyr in secre maid him glaid.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.n.1297