surreptitious

American  

[sur-uhp-tish-uhs] / ˌsɜr əpˈtɪʃ əs /

adjective

1. obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine.

   a surreptitious glance.

2. acting in a stealthy way.

3. obtained by subreption; subreptitious.

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surreptitious British  

/ ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs /

adjective

1. done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means

2. operating by stealth

3. characterized by fraud or misrepresentation of the truth

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Other Word Forms

• surreptitiously adverb
• surreptitiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of surreptitious

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin surreptīcius “stolen, clandestine,” equivalent to surrept(us), past participle of surripere “to steal,” ( sur- sur- ² + rep-, combining form of rapere “to snatch, plunder” ( rape ¹ ) + -tus past participle suffix) + -īcius adjective suffix ( -itious )

Example Sentences

In a written statement, she claimed "The Mail's Unlawful Acts against me involve landline tapping my phones and recording my live telephone conversations, placing surreptitious mics on my home windows."

From Barron's

She alleges the Mail tapped her landlines and placed "surreptitious mics on my home windows" in an effort to get stories.

From BBC

Cologne is a personal choice, true — but it’s eminently regiftable, after one surreptitious spray, and it’s a luxury that can feel too extravagant to purchase for oneself, especially in a climate of economic uncertainty.

From MarketWatch

Penelope puzzled over these mysteries daily, and had even paid a surreptitious visit or two to the attic while the children were otherwise engaged.

From Literature

With the camera on the dashboard, the vehicle becomes a surreptitious mobile set with Panahi and his co-stars mostly improvising their dialogue, some of it as cutting as anything intentional.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clandestine
• covert
• furtive
• hush-hush
• unauthorized