ETYM French secret (cf. Spanish and Portu. secreto, Italian secreto, segreto), from Latin secretus, p. p. of secernere to put apart, to separate. Related to Certain, Secrete, Secern.
1. Communicated covertly.
2. Not expressed; SYN. private.
3. Not open or public; kept private or not revealed.
4. The next to highest level of official classification for documents (before).

ETYM French secret (cf. Pr. secret, Spanish and Portu. secreto, Italian secreto, segreto), from Latin secretum. Related to Secret.
1. Information known only to a special group; SYN. arcanum.
2. Something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on).