FUGITIVE

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fugitif, from Latin fugitivus, from fugitus, past participle of fugere to flee; akin to Greek pheugein to flee Date: 14th century running away or intending flight , moving from place to place ; wandering , 3. being of short duration, difficult to grasp or retain ; elusive , likely to evaporate, deteriorate, change, fade, or disappear , being of transient interest , see: transient ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. noun Date: 14th century a person who flees or tries to escape, something elusive or hard to find