/ ˈfɜːtɪv; NAmE ˈfɜːrtɪv/ adjective
( disapproving ) behaving in a way that shows that you want to keep sth secret and do not want to be noticed
SYN stealthy :
She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder.
He looked sly and furtive.
► fur·tive·ly adverb
► fur·tive·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from French furtif , -ive or Latin furtivus , from furtum theft.