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Added 9 October 2026

furtive

/ˈfɜːtɪv/ adjective

In Latin: fūrtīvus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about furtive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
Of a thing: that has been acquired by theft; stolen; also taken stealthily.
Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.

Origin

From Middle English *furtyve (implied in furtyvely (adverb)), from Middle French furtif, furtive (“furtive, stealthy”) (modern French furtif), from Latin fūrtīvus (“clandestine, furtive, secret; concealed, hidden; stolen”), from fūrtum (“theft; robbery”) (from fūr (“thief”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”)) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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