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furtive

 - 3 dictionary results

fur⋅tive

  [fur-tiv]
Use furtive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: a furtive glance.
2. sly; shifty: a furtive manner.
Origin:
1480–90; < L furtīvus, equiv. to furt(um) theft (cf. fūr thief) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
fur⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
fur⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. clandestine, covert. 2. underhand, cunning.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To furtive
fur·tive   (fûr'tĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Characterized by stealth; surreptitious.

  2. Expressive of hidden motives or purposes; shifty. See Synonyms at secret.


[French furtif, from Old French, from Latin fūrtīvus, from fūrtum, theft, from fūr, thief; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.]
fur'tive·ly adv., fur'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

furtive 
1490 (implied in furtively), from Fr. furtif, from L. furtivus "stolen, hidden, secret," from furtum "theft, robbery," from fur (gen. furis) "thief."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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