adj
veiled
adj
1
Covered by a veil.
"The bride stood veiled at the back of the church."
"Statues in the gallery were kept veiled until the unveiling ceremony."
2
Only partly hidden, so the true meaning still shows through.
"His compliment came with a veiled insult underneath it."
"She made a veiled threat about what would happen if he was late again."
How to Use Veiled
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally covered by a veil, or figuratively disguised just enough that people can still tell what you really mean.
Common mistake
Almost always figurative in modern writing — "a veiled threat" is far more common than an actual veil.
Common pairings
a veiled threat
thinly veiled
veiled reference
a veiled insult
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The bride stood _____ at the back of the church.