/ · 1894 Brewer’s · I · In Petto (Italian)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Held in reserve, kept back, something done privately, and not announced to the general public. (In pecʹtore [Latin], in the breast.)
Cardinals in petto. Cardinals about to be elected, but not yet publicly announced. Their names are in pectŏre (of the Pope).
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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.
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