incognito
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus (“unknown”), from in- (“not”) + cognitus (“known”), perfect passive participle of cognoscere.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
incognito (not comparable)
- 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, 2nd edition, 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.
- 1891 June 25, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Adventure I.—A Scandal in Bohemia.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume II, London: George Newnes, Limited, […], published July 1891, →OCLC, page 65, column 2:
- "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."
Usage notes edit
This term is said especially of great personages who sometimes adopt a disguise or an assumed character in order to avoid notice.
Translations edit
|
Adverb edit
incognito (not comparable)
- Without revealing one's identity.
- 1709 May 30 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Thursday, May 19, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 17; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:
- The prince royal of Prussia came thither incognito.
Translations edit
|
Noun edit
incognito (countable and uncountable, plural incognitos)
- One unknown or in disguise, or under an assumed character or name.
- Coordinate term: incognita
- 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 edit
French edit
Etymology edit
From Italian.
Pronunciation edit
Adverb edit
incognito
Adjective edit
incognito (plural incognitos)
Noun edit
incognito m (plural incognitos)
Further reading edit
- “incognito”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Italian edit
Etymology edit
From Latin incognitus.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
incognito (feminine incognita, masculine plural incogniti, feminine plural incognite)
Derived terms edit
Noun edit
incognito m (plural incogniti)
Related terms edit
References edit
- ^ incognito in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)
Latin edit
Adjective edit
incognitō
Polish edit
Etymology edit
Unadapted borrowing from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus.
Pronunciation edit
Adverb edit
incognito (not comparable)
Noun edit
incognito n (indeclinable)
- (literary) incognito (assumption of disguise or of a feigned character; the state of being in disguise or not recognized)
- Synonym: anonimowość
Further reading edit
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French incognito or Italian incognito.
Adjective edit
incognito m or f or n (indeclinable)
Declension edit
singular | plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
nominative/ accusative |
indefinite | incognito | incognito | incognito | incognito | ||
definite | — | — | — | — | |||
genitive/ dative |
indefinite | incognito | incognito | incognito | incognito | ||
definite | — | — | — | — |
Adverb edit
incognito