'secretly-managed' originates from the combination of 'secretly' and 'managed', where 'secretly' comes from the Latin word 'secretus', meaning 'set apart, hidden', and 'managed' from the Italian 'maneggiare', meaning 'to handle'.

'secretus' transformed into the Old French word 'secret', and eventually became the modern English word 'secretly'. 'Maneggiare' transformed into the French word 'maneger', and eventually became the modern English word 'manage'.

Initially, 'secretly' meant 'hidden or concealed', and 'managed' meant 'handled or controlled'. Over time, 'secretly-managed' evolved to mean 'controlled in a hidden manner'.