secrecy
UK: ˈsiːkrəsi | US: ˈsiːkrəsi
n. the state of being kept hidden or private
n. the habit or practice of keeping secrets
secrecy = secre<secret> + cy<noun suffix>
- secre (from Latin secretus, meaning "hidden, separate")
- cy (noun-forming suffix indicating state or quality, from Latin -tia via Old French -cie)
Etymology Origin:
The word "secrecy" traces back to the Latin secretus (past participle of secernere, "to set apart, hide"), which entered Middle English via Old French secret. The suffix -cy evolved from Latin -tia, often denoting abstract nouns. The combination reflects the concept of "the state of being hidden," logically progressing from physical separation to abstract concealment.
The government operates under a veil of secrecy.
She valued secrecy and rarely shared personal details.
The project was shrouded in secrecy until its launch.
Corporate secrecy can sometimes hinder transparency.
His insistence on secrecy made others suspicious.