sécrète

Sécrète is a French word with several related uses, depending on its part of speech. As an adjective, it is the feminine form of secret, meaning hidden, confidential, or not openly disclosed. It is used to describe feminine nouns, for example une affaire secrète (a secret matter) or une information secrète (confidential information).

As a verb form, sécrète is the third-person singular present indicative of the verb sécréter, to secrete. In scientific and medical contexts, it describes the process by which a gland, cell, or organism produces and releases substances. For instance, la glande sécrète une hormone means “the gland secretes a hormone.” The verb form is distinguished from the feminine adjective by its pronunciation and accent patterns.

Etymology and usage notes: sécrète and secrète derive from Latin secretus (hidden) and related roots, with the sense shift in French to include the idea of production or release in a biological context. The term is common in biology, pharmacology, and everyday language when referring to information or items kept hidden or confidential.

Related terms include secret, secrètement (secretly), and sécrétion (secretion), which encompasses the act or result of secreting. The spelling with diacritics helps distinguish the different forms and meanings in written French.