covertly
UK: ˈkʌvətli | US: ˈkoʊvərtli
adv. in a way that is not openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly
adv. in a concealed or disguised manner
The word "covertly" derives from the Old French "covert," meaning "covered" or "hidden," which itself comes from the Latin "cooperire" (to cover completely). The suffix "-ly" is an English adverbial suffix, turning the adjective "covert" into an adverb. The term originally described physical concealment (e.g., covert operations) but evolved to include abstract secrecy (e.g., covert intentions).
The spy moved covertly through the crowd to avoid detection.
She glanced covertly at her notes during the exam.
The government conducted the operation covertly to maintain deniability.
He whispered covertly to his colleague during the meeting.
The documents were covertly transferred to a secure location.