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incognito. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
incognito, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
incognito in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus (“unknown”), from in- (“not”) + cognitus (“known”), perfect passive participle of cognoscere.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtoʊ/, /ˌɪnˈkɒɡnɪtoʊ/
- Rhymes: -iːtəʊ
- Hyphenation: in‧cog‧ni‧to
Adjective
incognito (not comparable)
- Without being known; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title; in disguise.
- Coordinate term: incognita
1703, Mat Prior, “The Ladle”, in Poems on Several Occasions, 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.
Usage notes
- This term is used especially of great personages who sometimes adopt a disguise or an assumed character in order to avoid notice.
Translations
without being known; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title; in disguise
Adverb
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.
1891 June 25, A Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Adventure I.—A Scandal in Bohemia.”, in Geo 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."
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.
- 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 E L, 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
French
Etymology
From Italian.
Pronunciation
Adverb
incognito
- incognito
Adjective
incognito (plural incognitos)
- incognito
Noun
incognito m (plural incognitos)
- incognito
Further reading
Indonesian
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus.
Adjective
incognito
- incognito
Adverb
incognito
- incognito
Further reading
Italian
Etymology
From Latin incognitus, equivalent to in- + cognito.
Pronunciation
Adjective
incognito (feminine incognita, masculine plural incogniti, feminine plural incognite)
- unknown
- (archaic) unaware; ignorant
Derived terms
Noun
incognito m (plural incogniti)
- incognito
References
Latin
Adjective
incognitō
- dative/ablative masculine/neuter singular of incognitus
Polish
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /iŋˈkɔɡ.ɲi.tɔ/
- Rhymes: -ɔɡɲitɔ
- Syllabification: in‧cog‧ni‧to
Adverb
incognito (not comparable)
- (literary) incognito (without revealing one's identity)
- Synonym: anonimowo
Noun
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
- incognito in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- incognito in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French incognito or Italian incognito.
Adjective
incognito m or f or n (indeclinable)
- unknown
Declension
invariable
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singular
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plural
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masculine
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neuter
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feminine
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masculine
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neuter
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feminine
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nominative- accusative
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indefinite
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incognito
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incognito
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incognito
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incognito
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definite
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—
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—
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—
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—
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genitive- dative
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indefinite
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incognito
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incognito
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incognito
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incognito
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definite
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Adverb
incognito
- unknown