furtive
adjective
Attempting to avoid notice or attention; secretive; stolen or taken secretly.
Etymology
From Latin furtivus "stolen," from furtum "theft," from fur "thief." Related to ferret (which "steals" prey from burrows).
Examples in Use
- 1.
"She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder."
- 2.
"His furtive movements aroused suspicion."
- 3.
"They exchanged furtive notes during the meeting."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Furtive and ferret share the Latin root fur (thief). Ferrets were named for their habit of "stealing" rabbits from burrows. The word captures the quick, guilty quality of secretive behavior.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 7 letters (F, U, R, T, I, V, E)
Scrabble Value: 13 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!
Ready to find words like "furtive" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!