paslaptis

Paslaptis is a Lithuanian noun that means a thing kept hidden or unknown. It can designate information that is deliberately concealed, a private matter, or something that is difficult to understand, i.e., a mystery. The term covers both everyday secrets and more formal or protected information, such as confidential matters.

Etymology: The word is built from the root slapt- meaning hidden, with the prefix pa- forming a noun that refers to the act or state of concealment. It is attested in standard Lithuanian and appears in historical texts alongside related forms such as slaptas (secret).

Usage: Paslaptis is common in spoken and written Lithuanian. Phrases include valstybinė paslaptis (state secret), paslaptis atskleista (the secret has been revealed). It can also describe personal or social mysteries and is frequently used in literature and media to evoke intrigue.

Related terms and context: Related terms include slaptumas (secrecy) and valstybinė paslaptis (state secret). In modern discourse, paslaptis can be discussed alongside privacy and information protection, where it marks information kept from public view or from unauthorized persons.