incognito

noun een-KOH-nyee-toh Rare

Origin: From Latin incognitus (unknown), from in- + cognitus (known).

Also means

anonymity

Usage Note

Incognito (m) functions both as a noun (viaggiare in incognito, to travel incognito) and as an indeclinable adjective (rimase incognito). In mathematics, l'incognita (f) is the unknown variable in an equation — note the feminine form for the mathematical sense. The English word 'incognito' is borrowed directly from Italian.

Examples

"Il cantante viaggiava in incognito per evitare i fan."

Natural Translation

The singer travelled incognito to avoid fans.

Literal Translation

The singer travelled in incognito to avoid the fans.

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