Main Entry: fur·tive

Pronunciation: \ˈfər-tiv\

Function: adjective

Etymology: French or Latin; French furtif, from Latin furtivus, from furtum theft, from fur thief, from or akin to Greek phōr thief; akin to Greek pherein to carry — more at bear

Date: 1612

1 a : done by stealth : surreptitious b : expressive of stealth : sly <had a furtive look about him>
2 : obtained underhandedly : stolen

synonyms see secret

— fur·tive·ly adverb

— fur·tive·ness noun