Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Done or obtained by surprise or with secrecy, falsehood, or concealment of truth.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective rare Done or obtained by surprise; with secrecy, or by concealment of the truth.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Done or obtained by
surprise , withsecrecy , or byconcealment of thetruth .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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We do not know its exact terms; but if it followed the drafts prepared in England for the purpose, it pronounced that the Bull of dispensation granted by Julius for the marriage of Henry with his deceased brother's wife must be declared obreptitious and consequently void, if the commissioners found that the motives alleged by Julius were insufficient and contrary to the facts.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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Julius II was obreptitious -- i.e. obtained by false pretences.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913
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There can be no doubt that Clement showed much weakness in the concessions he had made to the English demands; but it must also be remembered, first, that in the decision of this point of law, the technical grounds for treating the dispensation as obreptitious were in themselves serious and, secondly, that in committing the honour of the Holy See to Campeggio's keeping, Clement had known that he had to do with a man of exceptionally high principle.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
pavonine commented on the word obreptitious
obtained by trickery or by concealing the truth
November 23, 2007
qms commented on the word obreptitious
The victory sure was suspicious,
Defying the voters’ clear wishes,
Not obvious fraud
But obscurely odd,
Obtained by some means obreptitious.
May 30, 2018
qms commented on the word obreptitious
See also comments at subreption.
January 19, 2019