surreptitiously
17
8.3
- adverb
- /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəsli/
:
furtivamente
- Strand endured a lengthy dinner with Miriam, the whole time glancing surreptitiously at his watch.
It means trying to give the illusion of spontaneity while surreptitiously looking down at one's cuff for inspiration.
- It means trying to give the illusion of spontaneity while surreptitiously looking down at one's cuff for inspiration.
- You touched on something earlier on about the trying to be Incognito when you're suggesting these small changes and kind of bringing people in surreptitiously.
- How this vision unquiled surreptitiously, it draws together modernity and religion.
Examples
-
Dennis Nedry is busily and surreptitiously typing a series of commands into his console.
Fiction book (1993) -
His friends glance at each other surreptitiously and don't know what to say, other than goodnight.
Fiction book (1991) -
Now, how many people would you say in a year surreptitiously cross the border?
-
We start on Enrique, talking surreptitiously on the pay phone on the way to the kitchen.
Fiction book (1996) -
In class, she ignores the teacher and surreptitiously reads her favorite books.
Fiction book (1996) -
Some send or receive text messages on their phones, and some surreptitiously listen to their iPods.
Academic text (2010) -
Nevertheless, Teng's songs surreptitiously made their way to the ears of the mainland Chinese.
Academic text (2016) -
They'd be amused to know that he is surreptitiously drinking in a public house.
Fiction book (1998) -
Many also remained, determined to be agents of change from within by sometimes surreptitiously subverting the status quo.
Academic text (2014) -
The cat surreptitiously crept through the garden, trying not to be seen by the birds.
Synonyms
261
1.4
In a way that other people do not know
56
2.5
In a way other people do not know
18
4.3
In a secret way without someone knowing, often to hurt them
17
6.9
In a secret way so other people do not know
9
7.8
In a secret way so other people do not know
8
5.7
In a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen
5
6.8
In a way that tries not to be seen or heard
4
8.0
In a secret way to avoid being seen or found
2
4.9
In a secret way so other people do not notice
2
6.5
Without being easily seen or noticed by other people
1
6.1
In a quiet way that hides what you do or think
To act in a secret way so people do not notice you
In a secret or suspicious way
Antonyms
How Secretly
- Formal
4
8.0
17
6.9
17
8.3
261
1.4
174
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
surreptitiously = surreptitious (transparent) = surreptitious + ly
The adverb is formed by the regular adverbial suffix '-ly' from the adjective 'surreptitious', so its meaning is directly derived from the adjective.
Etymology
Surreptitiously comes from Latin parts sub- meaning 'under' and rapere meaning 'to seize', which is the idea behind the English word seize. So think of doing something 'under' people's notice—secretly taking or doing it—which is why surreptitiously means 'in a secret or hidden way'.