Etymology
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secrete (v.1)

"produce, prepare, or elaborate by process of secretion," 1707 (implied in secreted), a back-formation from secretion. Related: Secretes; secreting; secretious.

secrete (v.2)

"place in concealment," by 1741, an alteration of secret (v.).

Entries linking to secrete

secretion (n.)

1640s, in animal physiology, "act of preparing and expressing substances by glandular activity;" 1732 as "that which is secreted," from French sécrétion, from Latin secretionem (nominative secretio) "a dividing, separation," noun of action from past participle stem of secernere "to separate, set apart" (see secret (n.)).

secret (v.)

transitive, "to keep secret, conceal, hide" (marked in OED as "obsolete"), 1590s, from secret (n.). Related: Secreted; secreting.

secretory (adj.)

"of or pertaining to secretion, having the function of secreting," 1690s; see secrete (v.1) + -ory.

updated on March 25, 2022

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Dictionary entries near secrete

secret

secretaire

secretarial

secretariat

secretary

secrete

secretion

secretive

secretly

secretory

sect

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper