US Secret Service
1
3.4
- proper noun
- /juː ɛs ˈsiːkrɪt ˈsɜːrvɪs/
:
Servicio Secreto de EE. UU.
- Prieto had been with the US Secret Service for twenty years.
Examples
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I spoke with an agent from the US Secret Service about their security measures for visiting dignitaries.
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During the event, the US Secret Service was responsible for ensuring the safety of the president.
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March 2007, investigated by the US Secret Service.
Blog text (1) -
Since the US Secret Service cannot be trusted to guard Romney, he should ask for the Vatican to provide bodyguards.
Blog text (1) -
Sarah Palin was blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama.
Blog text (13) -
The US Secret Service is tasked with preventing counterfeiting of US currency.
Synonyms
381
3.4
A United States government group that protects the president and vice president and investigates fake money
34
6.6
A US agency that protects the president and investigates counterfeit money
2
3.7
A government group that protects the US president, vice president, their families, visiting leaders, and stops people making fake money
1
6.1
A U.S. government agency that protects leaders and stops fake money
Surface Forms
Morphology
A learner who knows 'US' (United States), 'secret' (confidential), and 'service' (an organization) will plausibly infer this is a US government organization concerned with secret matters. However, the precise institutional functions (protecting national leaders and investigating counterfeiting) are specific world knowledge and not directly derivable from the constituent words, so full understanding requires prior exposure.
Etymology
US Secret Service began as a small group that worked in secret to find people making fake money. They later began to guard the president and other leaders, so the name links 'secret' investigations with the service of protection.