adj. & n.
adj. 1 fleeing; that runs or has run away. 2 transient, fleeting; of short duration. 3 (of literature) of passing interest, ephemeral. 4 flitting, shifting.
n. 1 (often foll. by from) a person who flees, esp. from justice, an enemy, danger, or a master. 2 an exile or refugee. fugitively adv.
[ ME f. OF fugitif -ive f. L fugitivus f. fugere fugit- flee ]