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:
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.surreptitious - conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methodssurreptitious - conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; "clandestine intelligence operations"; "cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines"; "hole-and-corner intrigue"; "secret missions"; "a secret agent"; "secret sales of arms"; "surreptitious mobilization of troops"; "an undercover investigation"; "underground resistance"
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

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

surreptitious

adjective
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

surreptitious

[ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs] ADJsubrepticio
she took a surreptitious look at her watchmiró 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

surreptitious

[ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs] adjsubreptice, furtif/ive
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

surreptitious

adjheimlich; whisper, glance, kiss alsoverstohlen; he made a few surreptitious changeser 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] adjfurtivo/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
"Let me propose your name for membership in the Imperial Order of Abnormal Proboscidians, of which I am the High Noble Toby and Surreptitious Treasurer.
The State leaders may even make a merit of their surreptitious invasions of it on the ground of some temporary convenience, exemption, or advantage.
Another source of income to Maria were her cows, two of them, which she milked night and morning and which gained a surreptitious livelihood from vacant lots and the grass that grew on either side the public side walks, attended always by one or more of her ragged boys, whose watchful guardianship consisted chiefly in keeping their eyes out for the poundmen.
You paid surreptitious visits to your husband, which were simply madness.
"Have mercy, O Master of the Tenth Cycle!" cried one of the fellows, while the others edged toward the doorway as though to attempt a surreptitious escape from the presence of the mighty one.
Not even when old Infadoos with a surreptitious motion of the hand pointed out the crowning wonder of poor Good's "beautiful white legs," did they suffer the feeling of intense admiration which evidently mastered their minds to find expression.
With a sidelong glance at the door and a quick surreptitious movement he showed a pornographic picture.
Jerry was aware, vaguely, that there was something surreptitious about it.
"Have you not heard the astonishing intelligence regarding her surreptitious union?" Briggs asked.
Nutty, it is regrettable to say, went to his room after dinner for the purpose of imbibing two or three surreptitious whiskies-and-sodas.
It was another of my surreptitious schemes for extinguishing knighthood by making it grotesque and absurd.
"If you will throw--" Wilson had thought of the girl in Tom's bedroom, and was going to say, "If you will throw the surreptitious and disreputable part of your business my way, it may amount to something," but thought better of it and said,