adj.
/
ˈkʌvət,
ˈkəʊvəːt/
not openly acknowledged or displayed.
n.
/
ˈkʌvət,
ˈkʌvə/
- a thicket in which game can hide.
- Ornithology a feather covering the base of a main flight or tail feather of a bird.
Derivative
- covertly adv.
- covertness n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr., ‘covered’, past part. of covrir (see cover).