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incognito

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: incógnito

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus (unknown), from in- (not) + cognitus (known), perfect passive participle of cognoscere.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtoʊ/, /ˌɪnˈkɒɡnɪtoʊ/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːtəʊ
  • Hyphenation: in‧cog‧ni‧to

Adjective

incognito (not comparable)

  1. Without being known; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title; in disguise.
    Coordinate term: incognita
    • 1703, Mat[thew] Prior, “The Ladle”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: [] Jacob Tonson [], published 1709, →OCLC, stanza 1, page 125:
      THE Scepticks think 'twas long ago, / Since Gods came down Incognito; / To ſee who were their Friends or Foes, / And how our Actions fell or roſe.

Usage notes

  • This term is used especially of great personages who sometimes adopt a disguise or an assumed character in order to avoid notice.

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

incognito (not comparable)

  1. Without revealing one's identity.

Translations

Noun

incognito (countable and uncountable, plural incognitos)

  1. One unknown or in disguise, or under an assumed character or name.
    Coordinate term: incognita
  2. The assumption of disguise or of a feigned character; the state of being in disguise or not recognized.
    Coordinate term: incognita
    • 1829 January 1, Walter Scott, “General Preface”, in Waverley (Waverley Novels; I), Edinburgh: [] Cadell & Company; London: Simpkin and Marshall, page xxxii:
      Of those letters, and other attempts of the same kind, the author could not complain, though his incognito was endangered. He had challenged the public to a game at bo-peep, and if he was discovered in his “hiding-hole,” he must submit to the shame of detection.
    • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XX, in Francesca Carrara. [], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, [], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 169:
      It contained a letter from the King himself, craving hospitality for a few days, as his mother was about to visit England, and to take up with Lord Avonleigh her residence at the Castle. A slight incognito would be preserved, and as little form and ceremony expected as was possible.

Anagrams

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French

Etymology

From Italian.

Pronunciation

Adverb

incognito

  1. incognito

Adjective

incognito (plural incognitos)

  1. incognito

Noun

incognito m (plural incognitos)

  1. incognito

Further reading

Indonesian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus.

Adjective

incognito (comparative lebih incognito, superlative paling incognito)

  1. incognito

Adverb

incognito

  1. incognito

Further reading

Italian

Latin

Polish

Romanian

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