secrètement

secretly

adverb suh-kret-MAHN Rare

Usage Note

Secrètement is the adverb of secret, used like English 'secretly' or 'in secret'. It is interchangeable with en secret but slightly more formal. A common near-synonym is discrètement ('discreetly'), which implies tact rather than concealment. The accent on the first -e- distinguishes it from the adjective secret.

Examples

"Elle l'aimait secrètement depuis des années."

Natural Translation

She had secretly loved him for years.

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