furtive
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fur·tive
(fûr′tĭv)adj.
Characterized by, acting with, or suggesting stealth or a desire to avoid discovery; surreptitious: "J.W. from time to time gave her a furtive squeeze of the hand, but they never got to go out alone any more" (John Dos Passos). See Synonyms at secret.
[French furtif, from Old French, from Latin fūrtīvus, from fūrtum, theft, from fūr, thief; see bher- in Indo-European roots.]
fur′tive·ly adv.
fur′tive·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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]
ˈfurtively adv
ˈfurtiveness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fur•tive
(ˈfɜr tɪv)adj.
1. taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: a furtive glance.
2. sly; shifty: a furtive manner.
[1480–90; < Latin furtīvus, derivative of furtum theft]
fur′tive•ly, adv.
fur′tive•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
furtive
- Someone who is furtive literally "carries things away like a thief."See also related terms for thief.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Adj. | 1. | furtive - marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed; "a furtive manner"; "a sneak attack"; "stealthy footsteps"; "a surreptitious glance at his watch" concealed - hidden on any grounds for any motive; "a concealed weapon"; "a concealed compartment in his briefcase" |
2. | ![]() covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
furtive
adjective sly, secret, hidden, sneaking, covert, cloaked, behind someone's back, secretive, clandestine, sneaky, under-the-table, slinking, conspiratorial, skulking, underhand, surreptitious, stealthy a furtive glance over her shoulder
open, public, frank, straightforward, candid, forthright, undisguised, above-board, unreserved
open, public, frank, straightforward, candid, forthright, undisguised, above-board, unreserved
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
furtive
adjective1. So slow, deliberate, and secret as to escape observation:
2. Trickily secret:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
خَفي، ماكِر
kradmýtajný
fordækt
laumulegur
slepenszaglīgs
hırsızlamakaçamak
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
furtive
[ˈfɜːrtɪv] adj [glance, manner] → furtif/ive; [meeting] → furtif/iveCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
furtive
adj action → heimlich; behaviour, person → heimlichtuerisch; (= suspicious) → verdächtig; look → verstohlen; his furtive eyes → sein ausweichender Blick
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
furtive
[ˈfɜːtɪv] adj (glance, action) → furtivo/a; (person) → circospetto/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
furtive
(ˈfəːtiv) adjective secretive; avoiding attention. a furtive action/look.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.