furtive

Adjective
Synonyms: sneak(a)sneakystealthysurreptitiousbackstairbackstairs

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed“a furtive manner”“a sneak attack”“stealthy footsteps”“a surreptitious glance at his watch”Synonyms: sneak(a)sneakystealthysurreptitious
  2. secret and sly or sordid“backstairs gossip”“his low backstairs cunning — A.L.Guerard”“backstairs intimacies”“furtive behavior”Synonyms: backstairbackstairs
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Furtive \Fur"tive\, a. [L. furtivus, fr. furtum theft, fr. fur thief, akin to ferre to bear: cf. F. furtif. See Fertile.] Stolen; obtained or characterized by stealth; sly; secret; stealthy; as, a furtive look. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

A hasty and furtive ceremony. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]

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