The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fugitive \Fu"gi*tive\, n.
   1. One who flees from pursuit, danger, restraint, service,
      duty, etc.; a deserter; as, a fugitive from justice.
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   2. Something hard to be caught or detained.
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            Or Catch that airy fugitive called wit. --Harte.
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   Fugitive from justice (Law), one who, having committed a
      crime in one jurisdiction, flees or escapes into another
      to avoid punishment.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fugitive \Fu"gi*tive\, a. [OE. fugitif, F. fugitif, fr. L.
   fugitivus, fr. fugere to flee. See Bow to bend, and cf.
   Feverfew.]
   1. Fleeing from pursuit, danger, restraint, etc., escaping,
      from service, duty etc.; as, a fugitive solder; a fugitive
      slave; a fugitive debtor.
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            The fugitive Parthians follow.        --Shak.
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            Can a fugitive daughter enjoy herself while her
            parents are in tear?                  --Richardson
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            A libellous pamphlet of a fugitive physician. --Sir
                                                  H. Wotton.
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   2. Not fixed; not durable; liable to disappear or fall away;
      volatile; uncertain; evanescent; liable to fade; --
      applied to material and immaterial things; as, fugitive
      colors; a fugitive idea.
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            The me more tender and fugitive parts, the leaves .
            . . of vegatables.                    --Woodward.
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   Fugitive compositions, Such as are short and occasional,
      and so published that they quickly escape notice.

   Syn: Fleeting; unstable; wandering; uncertain; volatile;
        fugacious; fleeing; evanescent.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

fugitive
    adj 1: lasting for a markedly brief time; "a fleeting glance";
           "fugitive hours"; "rapid momentaneous association of
           things that meet and pass"; "a momentary glimpse" [syn:
           fleeting, fugitive, momentaneous, momentary]
    n 1: someone who flees from an uncongenial situation; "fugitives
         from the sweatshops" [syn: fugitive, runaway, fleer]
    2: someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to
       elude justice [syn: fugitive, fugitive from justice]