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fugitive - 8 dictionary results

fu⋅gi⋅tive

[fyoo-ji-tiv]
–noun
1. a person who is fleeing, from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.; a runaway: a fugitive from justice; a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.
–adjective
2. having taken flight, or run away: a fugitive slave.
3. fleeting; transitory; elusive: fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.
4. Fine Arts. changing color as a result of exposure to light and chemical substances present in the atmosphere, in other pigments, or in the medium.
5. dealing with subjects of passing interest, as writings; ephemeral: fugitive essays.
6. wandering, roving, or vagabond: a fugitive carnival.

Origin:
1350–1400; < L fugitīvus fleeing, equiv. to fugit(us) (ptp. of fugere to flee) + -īvus -ive; r. ME fugitif < OF


fu⋅gi⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
fu⋅gi⋅tive⋅ness, fu⋅gi⋅tiv⋅i⋅ty, noun


3. transient, passing, flitting, flying, brief, temporary. 5. momentary, evanescent, trivial, light. 6. straying, roaming.


3, 4. permanent. 5. lasting.
fu·gi·tive   (fyōō'jĭ-tĭv)   
adj.  
  1. Running away or fleeing, as from the law.
    1. Lasting only a short time; fleeting: "[His] house and burial place ... should be visited by all who profess even a fugitive interest in political economy" (John Kenneth Galbraith).
    2. Difficult to comprehend or retain; elusive: fugitive solutions to the problem.
    3. Given to change or disappearance; perishable: fugitive beauty.
    4. Of temporary interest: fugitive essays.
  2. Tending to wander; vagabond.
n.  
  1. One who flees; a refugee.
  2. Something fleeting or ephemeral.

[Middle English fugitif, from Old French, from Latin fugitīvus, from fugitus, past participle of fugere, to flee.]
fu'gi·tive·ly adv., fu'gi·tive·ness n.

Fugitive

Fu"gi*tive\, a. [OE. fugitif, F. fugitif, fr. L. fugitivus, fr. fugere to flee. See Bow to bend, and cf. Feverfew.]

1. Fleeing from pursuit, danger, restraint, etc., escaping, from service, duty etc.; as, a fugitive solder; a fugitive slave; a fugitive debtor.

The fugitive Parthians follow. --Shak.

Can a fugitive daughter enjoy herself while her parents are in tear? --Richardson

A libellous pamphlet of a fugitive physician. --Sir H. Wotton.

2. Not fixed; not durable; liable to disappear or fall away; volatile; uncertain; evanescent; liable to fade; -- applied to material and immaterial things; as, fugitive colors; a fugitive idea.

The me more tender and fugitive parts, the leaves . . . of vegatables. --Woodward.

Fugitive compositions, Such as are short and occasional, and so published that they quickly escape notice.

Syn: Fleeting; unstable; wandering; uncertain; volatile; fugacious; fleeing; evanescent.

Fugitive

Fu"gi*tive\, n. 1. One who flees from pursuit, danger, restraint, service, duty, etc.; a deserter; as, a fugitive from justice.

2. Something hard to be caught or detained.

Or Catch that airy fugitive called wit. --Harte.

Fugitive from justice (Law), one who, having committed a crime in one jurisdiction, flees or escapes into another to avoid punishment.
Language Translation for : fugitive
Spanish: fugitivo,
German: der Flüchtling,
Japanese: 逃亡者

fugitive 
1382, from O.Fr. fugitif, from L. fugitivus "fleeing" (but commonly used as a noun meaning "runaway"), from stem of fugere "run away, flee," from PIE base *bheug- "to flee" (cf. Gk. pheugein "to flee," Lith. bugstu "be frightened"). Replaced O.E. flyma. From 17c.-19c. Eng. had the useful adj. fugacious "likely to flee."

Main Entry: fu·gi·tive
Pronunciation: 'fyü-j&-tiv
Function: noun
: a person who flees; especially : a person who flees one jurisdiction (as a state) for another in order to elude law enforcement personnel

Main Entry: fu·gi·tive
Pronunciation: 'fyü-j&t-iv
Function: adjective
: tending to be inconstant or transient <fugitiveaches and pains —Berton Roueche>

Fugitive

Gen. 4:12, 14, a rover or wanderer (Heb. n'a); Judg. 12:4, a refugee, one who has escaped (Heb. palit); 2 Kings 25:11, a deserter, one who has fallen away to the enemy (Heb. nophel); Ezek. 17:21, one who has broken away in flight (Heb. mibrah); Isa. 15:5; 43:14, a breaker away, a fugitive (Heb. beriah), one who flees away.

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