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furtive

[ˈfɜːɾɪv]

Meanings
  • adjective

    Characterized by or given to stealthy or surreptitious action; secretive and evasive.

    - "His furtive glances gave away his guilt."
    - "She made a furtive escape from the room."

Pronunciation
  1. /ˈfɜːtɪv/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1339565"
  2. [ˈfɝ.ɽɪv]



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1088652"

Synonyms

surreptitious
Rhymes
Words rhyming with furtive
mute , cute , mute , mute , mute , ute
Variants
List of all variants of furtive that leads to same result
furtive , furtively , furtiveness , furtivenesses
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French furtif, from furter, to steal.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. The word 'furtive' comes from the Old French word 'furtif,' which means 'to steal'.

  2. The term 'furtive' is often used in detective fiction to describe clues or evidence that are discovered furtively or in secret.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. stealth: The ability to move quietly and avoid detection.

  2. subterfuge: The use of deceit or trickery to achieve a goal.


Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities
  1. This means that they need use only quantum mechanics or only general relativity and can, with a "furtive" glance, shrug off the barking admonition of the other.

    - Brian Greene,{it}The Elegant Universe{/it},1999
  2. … it made Shepherd look "furtive", wary, hunted—as if the photographer had shot him against his will, in the act of slamming the door.

    - Helen Garner,{it}The First Stone{/it},1995
  3. Fall's pleasures were "furtive", risky, short-lived-buckeye fights, … the endless recipes for the apples Mrs. Railsbeck asked him to fetch from the cobwebbed crate in the basement.

    - Stewart O'Nan,{it}The Names of the Dead{/it},1996

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the term 'furtive' is often used to describe characters or actions that are secretive or sneaky. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' the old man's eye is described as 'furtive,' suggesting his guilt and the narrator's paranoia.

How to Memorize "furtive"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize the word 'furtive' as a sneaky or secretive action, such as someone hiding in the shadows or peering around a corner.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'furtive' with the idea of secrecy or stealth.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic by remembering that 'Furtive' starts with the same letter as 'Feline,' and felines are often sneaky and secretive.


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