Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SE'CRET, a. [Fr. secret; It. Sp. and Port. secreto; L. secretus. This is given as the participle of secerno, but it is radically a different word; W. segyr, that is apart, inclosed or sacred; segru, to secrete or put apart; sêg, that is without access. The radical sense of sêg is to separate, as in L. seco, to cut off; and not improbably this word is contracted into the Latin se, a prefix in segrego, separo, &c.]

1. Properly, separate; hence, hid; concealed from the notice or knowledge of all persons except the individual or individuals concerned. I have a secret errand to thee, O king. – Judges iii.
2. Unseen; private; secluded; being in retirement. There secret in her sapphire cell, / He with the Nais wont to dwell. – Fenton.
3. Removed from sight; private; unknown. Abide in a secret place, and hide thyself. – 1 Sam. xix.
4. Keeping secrets; faithful to secrets intrusted; as, secret Romans. [Unusual.] – Shak.
5. Private; affording privacy. – Milton.
6. Occult; not seen; not apparent; as, the secret operations of physical causes.
7. Known to God only. Secret things belong to the Lord our God. – Deut. xxix.
8. Not proper to be seen; kept or such as ought to be kept from observation.