Sub rosa
Adverb
Pronunciation
sub-ROH-zuh
Definition
- in confidence :
secretly
Examples
"For 30 years he kept notes, almost sub rosa, finally
publishing his work with his own funds just before his death." — Jeannette
Ferrary, The New York Times Book Review, 31 May 1987
"Now, when you say you think they will test it, do you
think they will test it openly, essentially, or that they will try to do
something sub rosa and wait to be caught?" — Margaret Warner, on PBS.org,
9 Sept. 2015
Did You Know?
Sub rosa literally means "under the rose" in New
Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with secrecy. In
ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to
keep him from telling about the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining
rooms have been decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests
that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. Roses have also
been placed over confessionals as a symbol of the confidentiality of
confession. Sub rosa entered the English language in the 17th century, and even
before then, people were using the English version, "under the rose."
Earlier still, unter der Rose was apparently used in Germany, where the phrase
is thought to have originated.
Word Quiz
What adjective related to Latin rosa can mean
"resembling a rose" or "overly optimistic"?
Merriam-Webster
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