different between inscrutable vs covert

English

Etymology

Borrowed into late Middle English from Late Latin ?nscr?t?bilis, from in- (“not”) + scr?t? (“to examine”), corresponding to in- +? scrutable

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n?sk?u?t?bl?/
• Hyphenation: in?scrut?able

Adjective

inscrutable (comparative more inscrutable, superlative most inscrutable)

1. Difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom, or interpret.

   Synonyms: ineffable; see also Thesaurus:incomprehensible

Derived terms

• inscrutability
• inscrutableness
• inscrutably

Translations

See also

• inexplorable

Noun

inscrutable (plural inscrutables)

1. One who or that which is inscrutable; a person, etc. that cannot be comprehended.

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Inscrutable”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 329.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French covert, past participle of covrir (“to cover”) (corresponding to Latin coopertus); cognate to cover.

Pronunciation

• Adjective:
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?v?t/, /?k??v??t/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /?ko?v??t/, /ko??v??t/, /?k?v??t/
• Noun:
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?v?t/, /?k??v??t/, /?k?v?/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /?k?v??t/, /?ko?v??t/, /?k?v??/

Adjective

covert (comparative more covert, superlative most covert)

1. (now rare) Hidden, covered over; overgrown, sheltered.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.5:

     Within that wood there was a covert glade, / Foreby a narrow foord, to them well knowne […]

   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Gardens

     to plant a covert alley

2. (figuratively) Secret, surreptitious, concealed.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:covert
• feme covert

Antonyms

• overt

Derived terms

• covert stuttering

Related terms

• cover

Translations

Noun

covert (plural coverts)

1. A covering.
2. A disguise.
3. A hiding place.
4. Area of thick undergrowth where animals hide.
5. (ornithology) A feather that covers the bases of flight feathers.

Translations

Anagrams

• corvet, vector

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kav?t/

Verb

covert

1. inflection of covern:
   1. third-person singular present
   2. second-person plural present
   3. second-person plural subjunctive I
   4. plural imperative

Old French

Alternative forms

• cuvert
• covri

Etymology

From Latin coopertus.

Verb

covert

1. past participle of covrir

Descendants

• English: covert
• French: couvert