surreptitious
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sur·rep·ti·tious
(sûr′əp-tĭsh′əs)adj.
Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means. See Synonyms at secret.
[Middle English, from Latin surreptīcius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere, to take away secretly : sub-, secretly; see sub- + rapere, to seize; see rep- in Indo-European roots.]
sur′rep·ti′tious·ly adv.
sur′rep·ti′tious·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.
surreptitious
(ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs)adj
1. done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means
2. operating by stealth
3. characterized by fraud or misrepresentation of the truth
[C15: from Latin surreptīcius furtive, from surripere to steal, from sub- secretly + rapere to snatch]
ˌsurrepˈtitiously adv
ˌsurrepˈtitiousness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sur•rep•ti•tious
(ˌsɜr əpˈtɪʃ əs)adj.
1. obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; clandestine; secret: a surreptitious glance.
2. acting in a stealthy way.
[1400–50; < Latin surreptīcius stolen, clandestine =surrept(us), past participle of surripere to steal (sur- sur-2 + -ripere, comb. form of rapere to seize, rape1) + -īcius -itious]
sur`rep•ti′tious•ly, adv.
sur`rep•ti′tious•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Adj. | 1. | surreptitious - 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. | ![]() clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hush-hush, undercover, underground, secret, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger 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.
surreptitious
adjective secret, clandestine, furtive, sneaking, veiled, covert, sly, fraudulent, unauthorized, underhand, stealthy They had several surreptitious conversations.
open, frank, obvious, blatant, manifest, honest, conspicuous, overt, undisguised, unconcealed
open, frank, obvious, blatant, manifest, honest, conspicuous, overt, undisguised, unconcealed
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
surreptitious
adjectiveThe 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
surreptitious
[ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs] ADJ → subrepticioshe took a surreptitious look at her watch → miró furtivamente su reloj
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
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
surreptitious
adj → heimlich; whisper, glance, kiss also → verstohlen; he made a few surreptitious changes → er machte heimlich ein paar Änderungen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
surreptitious
[ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs] adj → furtivo/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995