sub rosa

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The Word of the Day for December 22 is: 

sub rosa   \sub-ROH-zuh\   adverb
     : in confidence : secretly

Example sentence:
     Several military leaders were meeting sub rosa, plotting 
to overthrow the king.

Did you know?
     "Sub rosa" literally means "under the rose" in New Latin. 
Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with 
secrecy. In ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to 
Harpocrates, the god of silence, to keep him from telling about 
the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining rooms have been 
decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests 
that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. 
Roses have also been placed over confessionals as a symbol of 
the confidentiality of confession. "Sub rosa" entered the 
English language in the 17th century, and even before then, 
people were using the English version, "under the rose." 
Earlier still, "unter der Rose" was apparently used in Germany, 
where the phrase is thought to have originated.