[fu.gi.tive] adj [ME, fr. MF & L; MF fugitif, fr. L fugitivus, fr. fugitus, pp. of fugere to flee; akin to Gk pheugein to flee] (14c) 1: running away or intending flight "~ slave" "~ debtor"
2: moving from place to place: wandering 3 a: being of short duration b: difficult to grasp or retain: elusive c: likely to evaporate, deteriorate, change, fade, or disappear "dyed with ~ colors"
4: being of transient interest "~ essays" syn see transient -- fu.gi.tive.ly adv -- fu.gi.tive.ness n
[2]fugitive n (14c) 1: a person who flees or tries to escape; esp: refugee
2: something elusive or hard to find