Nearby Words

furtively

[fur-tiv] Origin

fur·tive

[fur-tiv]
adjective
1.
taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: a furtive glance.
2.
sly; shifty: a furtive manner.

Origin:
1480–90; < Latin furtīvus, equivalent to furt(um) theft (compare fūr thief) + -īvus -ive

fur·tive·ly, adverb
fur·tive·ness, noun


1. clandestine, covert. 2. underhand, cunning.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Furtively is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
Collins
World English Dictionary
furtive (ˈfɜːtɪv)
 
adj
characterized by stealth; sly and secretive
 
[C15: from Latin furtīvus stolen, clandestine, from furtum a theft, from fūr a thief; related to Greek phōr thief]
 
'furtively
 
adv
 
'furtiveness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

furtive
late 15c., from Fr. furtif, from L. furtivus "stolen, hidden, secret," from furtum "theft, robbery," from fur (gen. furis) "thief." Related: Furtiveness
EXPAND

furtively
late 15c.; from furtive + + -ly (2).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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