† seˈcre, a. and n. Obs.
Also 4–5 secree.
[a. OF. secré, var. of secret: see secret a. and n.]
A. adj. = secret a. in various senses.
1. Not allowed to be revealed, hidden, occult.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 90 But I wol nat auowe that I seye And therfore keepe it secree I yow preye. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 84 And þay gyf hym þe prys of alle science, secre and heuenly. c 1407 Lydg. Reason & Sens. 1675 This god is also messagere..For to report in special The secre thingis of the hevene. 1430–40 ― Bochas viii. xxiv. (1554) 192/2 A ful precious stone,..Powder of which will discure anone, If it be drunke (though it be secree) Of maydenhed the broken chastitee. |
2. secre seal. a. A private seal of attestation affixed to a document; also fig. b. A seal fixed upon a closed letter or document.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 141 Heo may as muche do In a Mooneþ ones, As ȝoure secre seal [1377 B. iii. 145, 1393 C. iv. 183 secret seel] In Seuen score dayes. Ibid. viii. 25 Bote vndur his secre seal [1377 B. vii. 23 secret seel; 1393 C. x. 27 secre seel] Treuþe sende a lettre. 1393 Ibid. C. x. 138 The whiche arn lunatik lollares..For vnder godes secre seel here synnes ben ykeuered. |
3. Of a person: Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation; close, discreet.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1528 And he was wis, hardy, secre, and ryche. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 2001 Sche kepte hir cloos and wonderly secree, Þat by hir chere no man myȝt see What þat sche ment. |
b. Characterized by reserve or secrecy. Phrase, in secre wyse.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 744 In his counseyl tellinge That toucheth love that oughte be secree; For of him-self it wolde y-nough out-springe. c 1386 ― Doctor's T. 143 This Iuge vn-to this cherl his tale hath toold In secree wise. 1440 in Wars Eng. in France (1864) II. 307 Sende me worde, yn the most secre wyse. |
4. Intimate, privy. rare—1.
| 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. i. xi, Sine nixt hir raid..Twelf damisellis..Quhilks semit of her counsell maist secre. |
5. Of a place: Remote, retired, secluded. Also rarely of time, spent in seclusion.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. iv. 31 Thilke thinges that I hadde lerned of thee among my secree restingwhyles [L. inter secreta otia]. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 4056, I am callyd Dame Penaunce. The cheff wardeyn..Off thylke yle most secre; The wych..Ys yhyd with-Inne a man. c 1550 Rolland Crt. Venus i. 652 In hir chalmer quhilk ay was most secre. |
6. quasi-adv. Secretly; without witnesses.
| c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 381 To noon oother creature..Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. Vnder his brest he baar it moore secree Than euere dide Pamphilus for Galathee. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 541 So it be doon secre that no man se. |
B. n.
1. Something that is kept hidden or secret. a. Something hidden from human understanding or knowledge; a divine or natural mystery.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. T. 894 For this science, and this konnyng, quod he, Is of the secree of the secretes pardee. c 1407 Lydg. Reason & Sens. 4879 Ful of mystery and secres And many vnkouth prevites. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. lxxviii. (1869) 46 And þere weren shewed þee alle þe secrees of Nature. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xvii. 57 He is a fool that don wele as I have do, To knowen the Secrees of his Saviour. |
b. A private or secret matter; = secret n. 3.
| c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 31 But to hise wyues toolde he his secree. c 1400 Rom. Rose 5260 For tweyn in nombre is bet than three In every counsel and secree. 1489 Barbour's Bruce (Edin. MS.) iv. 577 And couth rycht weill secreis conceil. |
2. A prayer in the Mass recited by the priest in a low voice; = secret n. 2.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 12044 As he stod at is masse..Biuore þe weued in is bedes, at þe secre riȝt, Com sir gui de mountfort..& villiche him slou. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxix. (Cosme & Damyane) 1 Of haly messe in þe secre syndry sanctis set we se. a 1400 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xlvii. 541 Þen he biginnes his secre; Adoun þenne knele ȝe. |
3. Secrecy. in secree, in private, secretly.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 62 He seith in open, fy! to Sinne, And in secre ther is no vice Of which that he nis a Norrice. c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 403 Wallace with hyr in secre maid him glaid. |