| secret | 1. Hidden; concealed; as, secret treasure; secret plans; a secret vow. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us." (Deut. Xxix. 29) 2. Withdraw from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded. "There, secret in her sapphire cell, He with the Nais wont to dwell." (Fenton) 3. Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive. "Secret Romans, that have spoke the word, And will not palter." (Shak) 4. Separate; distinct. "They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly secret from matter." (Cudworth) Synonym: Hidden, concealed, secluded, retired, unseen, unknown, private, obscure, recondite, latent, covert, clandestine, privy. See Hidden. Origin: F. Secret (cf. Sp.& Pg. Secreto, It. Secreto, segreto), fr. L. Secretus, p.p. Of secrernere to put apart, to separate. See Certain, and cf. Secrete, Secern. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| secreta | 1. <physiology> The process of elaborating a specific product as a result of the activity of a gland, this activity may range from separating a specific substance of the blood to the elaboration of a new chemical substance. 2. Any substance produced by secretion. Origin: L. Secretio, from secernere = to secrete (09 Oct 1997) |
| secretagogue | <physiology> Substance that induces secretion from cells, originally applied to peptides inducing gastric and pancreatic secretion. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Secretan | H., Swiss surgeon. Lived: 1856-1916. See: Secretan's syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Secretan's syndrome | <syndrome> Factitious, traumatic, recurrent oedema or haemorrhage of the dorsum of the hand. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secretarial | Of or pertaining to a secretary; befitting a secretary. "Secretarial, diplomatic, or other official training." (Carlyle) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| secretary | 1. One who keeps, or is intrusted with, secrets. 2. A person employed to write orders, letters, dispatches, public or private papers, records, and the like; an official scribe, amanuensis, or writer; one who attends to correspondence, and transacts other business, for an association, a public body, or an individual. "That which is most of all profitable is acquaintance with the secretaries, and employed men of ambassadors." (Bacon) 3. An officer of state whose business is to superintend and manage the affairs of a particular department of government, and who is usually a member of the cabinet or advisory council of the chief executive; as, the secretary of state, who conducts the correspondence and attends to the relations of a government with foreign courts; the secretary of the treasury, who manages the department of finance; the secretary of war, etc. 4. A piece of furniture, with conveniences for writing and for the arrangement of papers; an escritoire. 5. <zoology> The secretary bird. Secretary Bird. [So called in allusion to the tufts of feathers at the back of its head, which were fancifully thought to resemble pens stuck behind the ear. <zoology> A large long-legged raptorial bird (Gypogeranus serpentarius), native of South Africa, but now naturalized in the West Indies and some other tropical countries. It has a powerful hooked beak, a crest of long feathers, and a long tail. It feeds upon reptiles of various kinds, and is much prized on account of its habit of killing and devouring snakes of all kinds. Synonym: serpent eater. Origin: F. Secretaire (cf. Pr. Secretari, Sp. & Pg. Secretario, It. Secretario, segretario) LL. Secretarius, originally, a confidant, one intrusted with secrets, from L. Secretum a secret. See Secret, &. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| secretase | <enzyme> Hypothetical proteinase which cleaves amyloid beta-precursor protein in betaa4 domain (residue 16) to generate the secreted form of app; comes in three putative forms (alpha, beta, gamma); beta and gamma forms form beta-protein from precursor, while alpha form cleaves precursor in middle so no beta-protein forms Registry number: EC 3.4.99.- Synonym: app secretase, amyloid precursor protein secretase, alpha-secretase, beta-secretase, gamma-secretase (26 Jun 1999) |
| secrete | <physiology> To discharge a secretion, to release some sort of liquid substance (or substance in liquid). This can be done by the cell, by glands or other organs, or by tissues. Examples of things that are secreted are hormones, saliva, mucus, bile, and sweat. (09 Oct 1997) |
| secrete-metory | <physiology> Causing secretion; said of nerves which go to glands and influence secretion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| secretin | <hormone> Peptide hormone of gastrointestinal tract (27 residues) found in the mucosal cells of duodenum. Stimulates pancreatic, pepsin and bile secretion, inhibits gastric acid secretion. Considerable homology with gastric inhibitory peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon. (18 Nov 1997) |
| secretin test | <investigation> A test of pancreatic exocrine function, variably performed and standardised, in which the bicarbonate, amylase, and volume of the duodenal aspirate are measured after intravenous administration of secretin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secretion | 1. <physiology> The process of elaborating a specific product as a result of the activity of a gland, this activity may range from separating a specific substance of the blood to the elaboration of a new chemical substance. 2. Any substance produced by secretion. Origin: L. Secretio, from secernere = to secrete (09 Oct 1997) |
| secretion vector | <molecular biology> A DNA vector in which the protein product is both expressed and secreted (excreted) from the cell. (09 Oct 1997) |
| secretiveness | 1. The quality of being secretive; disposition or tendency to conceal. 2. <psychology> The faculty or propensity which impels to reserve, secrecy, or concealment. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |