well-concealedadj.
/ˌwɛlkənˈsiːld/, U.S. /ˌwɛlkənˈsild/ Thoroughly or skilfully hidden.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > [adjective] > hidden > well-hidden
well-concealed?1590
?1590 A. Munday tr. First Bk. Amadis of Gaule xxi. f. 109v She commaunded the Damosell to shut the door, to the end her loue all this while so well concealed [printed coucealed], might not break foorth into open suspition.
1624 A. Leighton Speculum Belli Sacri xxvii. 123 There be many notable instances of well concealed counsell, and the ensuing good in militarie writers.
1797 W. Johnston tr. J. Beckmann Hist. Inventions & Discov. III. 331 The spectators pay for the pleasure which they reveive from a well-concealed deception.
1858 Harper's Mag. Apr. 587/1 They would fly to their well-concealed fastnesses among the keys, bidding defiance to all pursuit.
1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby vii. 139 He put out his..hand with well-concealed dislike. ‘I'm glad to see you, sir.’
1982 N.Y. Times 3 Feb. a8/1 This correspondent visited the wellconcealed underground location of Venceremos radio in the mountains.
2009 MovieMail July 22/2 Peter Falk dons his trench coat once again to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.?1590