furtive
14
7.5
- adjective
- /ˈfɜrtɪv/
:
furtivo
- She took a furtive glance around the room before slipping out the door.
- a furtive glance
- furtive figures
And most of her images are of whites are furtive and they're candid shots and they're often shot by people who either don't know they're being photographed.
- And most of her images are of whites are furtive and they're candid shots and they're often shot by people who either don't know they're being photographed.
Examples
-
What did that mean, she wondered, eking a furtive glance at the frail figure seated beside her.
Fiction book (1995) -
Voices were kept low and furtive, as if someone might hear.
Fiction book (1993) -
Try not to look so furtive, Harry.
-
That first furtive kiss in the backyard at age 13.
-
But in spite of her furtive efforts to pull it out without getting caught, a guard sees her.
Academic text (2010) -
The man who was in line to get on our bus was casting furtive glances at us.
Fiction book (1996) -
Marilyn gave Harris a furtive nod to let him know that she had been telling the truth.
Fiction book (1997) -
Jobber and Shedwyn cast each other furtive looks, afraid and attracted to each other at the same time.
Fiction book (1991) -
Already, Dixie sat at the table, withdrawn from the world in furtive defiance.
Fiction book (1997) -
Sancerre glances over his shoulder, furtive and sly, then comes back to me with a wink.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
115
5.8
Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention
101
4.4
Acting in a secret way to avoid being noticed or to get an advantage
71
4.9
A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings
19
6.3
Acting quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
7
8.5
Done secretly because people would disapprove
Antonyms
How Secretive
Surface Forms
Morphology
furtive = furt + ive
Although formed with a recognizable adjectival suffix, the lexical root is not a productive English base and the word's sense ('secretive') is not transparently inferable by learners from its parts.
Etymology
Furtive comes from the Latin root furt-, from the Latin word furtum meaning 'theft' and from fur meaning 'thief'. So a furtive person acts like a thief: quiet and secret to avoid being seen.