Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
covertly
This term describes actions performed in secret, often with a deliberate intent to avoid detection or scrutiny. It carries a stronger connotation of stealth and strategic concealment than the word "secretly," which is more general. While "secretly" can describe a private feeling or a surprise party, "covertly" is frequently associated with espionage, military operations, or deceptive behavior in professional and political contexts.
In terms of register, it is more formal than "on the sly" or "behind someone's back." It is commonly used in legal, governmental, or journalistic writing to describe clandestine activities. Because it is an adverb, it modifies the manner of an action, emphasizing the hidden nature of the process rather than the state of the object.