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Stage 1 of 4
cernere
Latin · ancient
"to sift, to distinguish"
to sift, to distinguish, combined with se- (apart)
2
Stage 2 of 4
secernere
Latin · ancient
"to separate, to set apart"
to separate, to set apart, from se- and cernere, with irregular past participle secretus
3
Stage 3 of 4
secret
Old French · medieval
"something kept hidden from others"
carried into French for something kept hidden from others
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Stage 4 of 4
secret
English · 1300s
"something kept hidden from general knowledge"
settled as the English word for something kept hidden from general knowledge
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