incognito
/ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtoʊ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.06 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The assumption of disguise or of a feigned character; the state of being in disguise or not recognized.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "The prince royal of Prussia came thither incognito."
- ""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.""
- "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."
- "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."
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus (“unknown”), from in- (“not”) + cognitus (“known”), perfect passive participle of cognoscere.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *ǵneh₃-, incognitus