sub rosa

[ suhb roh-zuh ]

adverb

1. confidentially; secretly; privately.

sub rosa

/ ˈrəʊzə /

adverb

1. in secret

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub rosa¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sub rosā literally, “under the rose,” from the ancient use of the rose at meetings as a symbol of the sworn confidence of the participants, based on the Greek myth that Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, who then gave the rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence and secrets, to ensure that Aphrodite’s dalliances remained hidden

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub rosa¹

Latin, literally: under the rose; from the rose that, in ancient times, was hung over the council table, as a token of secrecy

Example Sentences

Hijinks ensue, and schemes within schemes — including a rhino-saving project that somehow involves Persephone babysitting a rhino overnight; a sub-rosa jewel-trading venture; and some silly CIA business.

From Washington Post

“There is a lot of sub-rosa sanctions enforcement going on with U.S. officials at State and Treasury and others,” Mr. Klingner said.

From Washington Times

With Democrats about to assume control of the House of Representatives, we're being treated to another round of wide-ranging calls for bipartisanship, both overtly and more insidiously in sub-rosa form.

From Salon

Bachelder’s reliance on sub-rosa psychological churnings partly reflects his strengths as a novelist: he excels as an analyst of the anxieties that undergird social mores rather than as a dramatist of extravagant scenes.

From The New Yorker

OK, but doesn’t that sub-rosa imply that some will?

From Forbes