furtive

[ fur-tiv ]

adjective

1. taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret:

   a furtive glance.

   Synonyms: covert, clandestine

2. sly; shifty:

   a furtive manner.

   Synonyms: cunning, crafty, underhanded

furtive

/ ˈfɜːtɪv /

adjective

1. characterized by stealth; sly and secretive

Derived Forms

• ˈfurtively, adverb
• ˈfurtiveness, noun

Other Words From

• fur·tive·ly adverb
• fur·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of furtive¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin furtīvus, equivalent to furt(um) “theft” (compare fūr “thief”) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of furtive¹

C15: from Latin furtīvus stolen, clandestine, from furtum a theft, from fūr a thief; related to Greek phōr thief

Example Sentences

The prison romance was strengthened with the exchange of furtive signs and body language that both developed through the glass of the door and a window.

From Washington Blade

The problem is, she’s already spent that money on furtive, ritualistic binge-and-purge sessions whose secrecy she ensures by checking into a local motel.

From Time

I’d been looping a fan edit of every furtive look between Anakin and Padme for four hours straight when the recall notification came through.

From MIT Technology Review

It fully embraces the many YA and fantasy tropes that fill its story—furtive and longing glances between friends!

From The Daily Beast

In its place, he and a small team created a wearable wireless video camera that record footage from his point of view—complete with furtive glances and eye blinks.

From MIT Technology Review

Pig [growling sotto voce behind his hand, mock-furtive as a Disneyland Foxy Loxy]: Take 35 percent off the top and split!

From The Daily Beast

He fancied himself a Marxist, lived in rooming houses under aliases and was a furtive, nasty man.

From The Daily Beast

Here is real, unmistakable nastiness of a fetid, furtive kind, whispered in corners after a cautious glance over the shoulder.

From The Daily Beast

The handwriting clearly belonged to an unstable, conniving, furtive, shallow creep.

From The Daily Beast

And it is Mark and Scott—not “Chad and Ted”—who partake of cigarettes and “furtive man-on-man action.”

From The Daily Beast

Aristide suddenly bethought him of the furtive masquer of the night before.

From Project Gutenberg

Garnache had been all eyes for some furtive sign, some whispered word; but he had surprised neither.

From Project Gutenberg

The first evening we went to it, and he, unobserved, made furtive sketches of the most prominent people and the prettiest girls.

From Project Gutenberg

Dorothy again caught the furtive glance of the woman's evil eyes, and recoiled from it as if she had trodden upon a snake.

From Project Gutenberg

Twice had Le Pontois taken furtive glances at the stranger whose lined brow was so extraordinarily familiar.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clandestine
• conspiratorial
• covert
• surreptitious