Secrete, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Secreting.]
Etymology: [L. secretus separated, secret, hidden, p. p. of secernere. See Secret, and cf. Discrete, Discreet.]
1. To deposit in a place of hiding; to hide; to conceal; as, to secrete stolen goods; to secrete one's self.
2. (Physiol.)
To separate from the blood and elaborate by the process of secretion; to elaborate and emit as a secretion. See Secretion. Why one set of cells should secrete bile, another urea, and so on, we do not known. Carpenter.
Syn. -- To conceal; hide. See Conceal.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for secrete; he lists it under hide.
Where he writes about it:
Secrete is a stronger word than conceal, and is used chiefly of such material objects as may be separated from the person, or from their ordinary surroundings, and put in unlooked-for places; a man conceals a scar on his face, but does not secrete it; a thief secretes stolen goods; an officer may also be said to secrete himself to watch the thief. — from hide