sub rosa

English

Alternative forms

• subrosa (noun)

Etymology

Borrowed from post-Classical Latin sub rosā (“under the rose”), from sub (“under”) + rosā (“rose”). Compare earlier under the rose.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌsʌb.ˈɹəʊ.zə/

Adverb

sub rosa

1. In secret or covertly; privately, confidentially. [from 17th c.]

   they held the meeting sub rosa

Adjective

sub rosa

1. Carried out secretly or confidentially.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:covert

Noun

sub rosa (uncountable)

1. (slang, in workers' compensation cases) Covert surveillance video used to catch workers' compensation applicants and show that they are in fact not injured.

Synonyms

• behind the scenes
• under the rose
• under the table