secre

a. Secret; secretive; faithful to a secret. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To be holden stable and secre. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Secrecies [ From Secret. ] 1. The state or quality of being hidden; as, his movements were detected in spite of their secrecy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lady Anne,
Whom the king hath in secrecy long married. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is concealed; a secret. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Seclusion; privacy; retirement. “The pensive secrecy of desert cell.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The quality of being secretive; fidelity to a secret; forbearance of disclosure or discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is not with public as with private prayer; in this, rather secrecy is commanded than outward show. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Secretly. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Secrecy; privacy. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. secret (cf. Sp. & Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), fr. L. secretus, p. p. of secernere to put apart, to separate. See Certain, and cf. Secrete, Secern. ] 1. Hidden; concealed; as, secret treasure; secret plans; a secret vow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us. Deut. xxix. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded. [ 1913 Webster ]

There, secret in her sapphire cell,
He with the Nais wont to dwell. Fenton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Separate; distinct. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly secret from matter. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Hidden; concealed; secluded; retired; unseen; unknown; private; obscure; recondite; latent; covert; clandestine; privy. See Hidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. secret (cf. Pr. secret, Sp. & Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), from L. secretum. See Secret, a. ] 1. Something studiously concealed; a thing kept from general knowledge; what is not revealed, or not to be revealed. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tell our own secrets is often folly; to communicate those of others is treachery. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A thing not discovered; what is unknown or unexplained; a mystery. [ 1913 Webster ]

All secrets of the deep, all nature's works. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. The parts which modesty and propriety require to be concealed; the genital organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

In secret, in a private place; in privacy or secrecy; in a state or place not seen; privately. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bread eaten in secret is pleasant. Prov. ix. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To keep secret. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] A process in which mercury, or some of its salts, is employed to impart the property of felting to certain kinds of furs. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]