incognito
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): /ˌɪnˈkɒɡnitoʊ/
- Rhymes: -iːtəʊ
Adjective
incognito (not comparable)
- without being known; in disguise; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title.
- 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Scandal In Bohemia:
- "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, “you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you.”
- 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Scandal In Bohemia:
Usage notes
This term is said especially of great personages who sometimes adopt a disguise or an assumed character in order to avoid notice.
Quotations
- 'Twas long ago/Since gods come down incognito. —Prior.
- The prince royal of Persia came thither incognito. —Tatler.
Translations
Translations
without revealing one's identity
Noun
incognito (countable and uncountable, plural incognitos)
- One unknown or in disguise, or under an assumed character or name.
- The assumption of disguise or of a feigned character; the state of being in disguise or not recognized.
- Sir Walter Scott
- His incognito was endangered.
- Sir Walter Scott
French
Etymology
From Italian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ.ɲi.to/
Further reading
- “incognito” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Italian
Latin
Adjective
incognitō
- dative masculine singular of incognitus
- dative neuter singular of incognitus
- ablative masculine singular of incognitus
- ablative neuter singular of incognitus
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