[ad. L. clandestīnus secret, hidden, clandestine, f. clam secretly, in private; cf. matutīnus. In French clandestin, -ine occurs in 16th c.]
A. adj. Secret, private, concealed; usually in bad sense, implying craft or deception; underhand, surreptitious.
1566. Lethington, To Cecil, in Burnet, Records, III. No. 30 (R.). The vitiated and clandestine contract … having no witness nor solemnization of Christian matrimony.
1658. Milton, Lett. State (1851), 400. A certain clandestine Hostility cover’d over with the name of Peace.
1698. W. Chilcot, Evil Thoughts, ii. (1851), 18. The clandestine impurities of the hearts and souls of the whole world shall be revealed.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 69. When the order of the church is observed, the marriage is called regular; when otherwise, clandestine. Clandestine marriage, though it be valid, has statutory penalties annexed to it.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. x. (1852), 359. A powerful stimulus to clandestine distillation.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. White, III. 472. I obtained access by clandestine means.
B. † sb. A clandestine or underhand proceeding.
