secret
kept apart from public knowledge
Roots
- cern / cret: sift, separate, distinguish, or set apart
- se-: apart, aside, or away
Other words with the cern / cret root
- discern: to notice or distinguish clearly
- discerning: showing careful judgment
- discrete: separate and distinct
- secrete: to release or hide away
Secret is the familiar set-apart word: information held away from view.
She kept the backup plan secret until everyone had tried the first version.