hiddenly

Hiddenly is an adverb formed from the adjective hidden, meaning "in a hidden manner" or "secretly." It is used to describe actions or conditions that are concealed from view or awareness. The word is formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the past-participial adjective hidden.

Usage of hiddenly is relatively uncommon in contemporary English and is often regarded as literary, archaic, or stylistically marked. Writers and speakers more frequently use synonyms such as secretly, covertly, clandestinely, or the phrase in secret. When used, hiddenly typically emphasizes the manner of concealment rather than intent, as in "the manuscript lay hiddenly beneath the floorboards," though such constructions can sound formal or unusual to modern ears.

Etymologically, hidden derives from Old English hiden, the past participle of hȳdan, meaning "to hide." The adverbial form follows a common pattern of adjectival +ly formation, but its limited frequency has left it less entrenched than many other -ly adverbs.

In stylistic guidance, editors often recommend choosing a more common adverb or rephrasing for clarity and naturalness. Related forms include hidden (adjective), hide (verb), and hiding (noun or verb form). Antonyms include openly and publicly.