Sekirov Dictionary

closet

UK /ˈklɒzɪt/US /ˈklɑzɪt/

noun 20
adjective 3
verb 3
forms 3
phrases 3

noun20

•
a small room in a house where clothes, food and other things are kept
- A Closet full of shelves... it... should therefore be called a Cupboard rather than a Closet. — 1799
(US, Philippines) One intended for storing clothes or bedclothes.
A state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity.
The state of having one's sexual orientation a secret.
•
(figurative) A secret or hiding place, (particularly) the hiding place in English idioms such as in the closet and skeleton in the closet.
- The closet can be a scary place for a gay teenager.
- He's so far in the closet, he can see Narnia.
A private cabinet.
(slang) Clipping of closet case.
•
An ordinary similar to a bar but half as broad.
- A Closset is the halfe of the Barre, and tenne of them maie be borne in one fielde. — 1572
•
(no longer used) One used to store valuables.
- But heere's a Parchment... I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will. — 1599
•
(no longer used) One used to store curiosities.
- Mr. Tradescant and his wife told me they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their closet of curiosities when they died. — 1659
(no longer used) Any private or inner room.
•
(no longer used) A private room used for prayer or other devotions.
- When thou prayest, enter into thy closet. — 1611
(euphemistic, no longer used) Clipping of closet of ease, (later, UK) clipping of water closet: a room containing a toilet.
(no longer used) Any private space, (particularly) bowers in the open air.
•
(no longer used) A private room used by women to groom and dress themselves.
- Closet for a lady to make her redy in, chamberette. — 1530
•
(figurative, no longer used) A place of (usually, fanciful) contemplation and theorizing.
- [A]broad and at home, at their Tables or in their Closets […] — 1594
(no longer used) The private residence or private council chamber of a monarch.
(no longer used) A pew or side-chapel reserved for a monarch or other feudal lord.
(Scotland, no longer used) A sewer.
(no longer used) A compendium of knowledge, possibly from closet as a room?

adjective3

•
Closeted, secret (especially with reference to gay people who are in the closet).
- He's a closet case.
Private.
Denoting anything kept a secret or private.

verb3

•
To shut away for private discussion.
- The ambassador has been closeted with the prime minister all afternoon. We're all worried what will be announced when they exit.
•
To put into a private place for a secret interview or interrogation.
- He was to call a new legislature, to closet its members. — 1834
•
To shut up in, or as in, a closet for concealment or confinement.
- See what contempt is fallen on human kind; […] See Bedlam's closeted and handcuff'd charge / Surpass'd in frenzy by the mad at large — 1784

forms

closeted · closeting · closets

Phrases with closet

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