sub-rosa
Adjective: - Designed and carried out secretly or confidentially; private, covert, or clandestine. The term describes actions, agreements, or information that are intentionally kept hidden from public or official view.
The adjective "sub-rosa" is used attributively (before a noun) to modify and describe a noun, indicating its secret nature. It is a formal or literary term. - Correct: They held a sub-rosa meeting. - Incorrect: The meeting was sub-rosa. (It is less common to use it predicatively, i.e., after a linking verb like "was").
- The diplomatic negotiations were conducted in a sub-rosa manner to avoid media scrutiny.
- She received sub-rosa instructions that contradicted the official policy.
- The committee's sub-rosa decision was later leaked to the press.
- In a sub-rosa fashion/manner: An adverbial phrase meaning "secretly."
- The funds were transferred in a sub-rosa fashion.
- Sub rosa (Adverbial phrase): The original Latin phrase meaning "under the rose," used as an adverb to mean "in secret" or "confidentially."
- The entire agreement was made sub rosa.
- Covert (Adjective): Not openly acknowledged or displayed.
- Clandestine (Adjective): Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
- Surreptitious (Adjective): Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
- Secret
- Confidential
- Private
- Under-the-table
- Behind-the-scenes
- Public
- Open
- Overt
- Aboveboard
- Transparent
The term originates from the Latin phrase sub rosā, meaning "under the rose." In ancient symbolism, the rose was an emblem of secrecy. A rose carved on the ceiling of a council chamber meant that all discussions held there were to remain confidential. The hyphenated form "sub-rosa" functions specifically as an adjective in English.
- designed and carried out secretly or confidentially
- a sub-rosa report
- has their under-the-table backing