— surreptitiously , adv. — surreptitiousness , n.
/serr'euhp tish"euhs/ , adj.
1. obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine: a surreptitious glance.
2. acting in a stealthy way.
3. obtained by subreption; subreptitious.
[ 1400-50; late ME surrepticius stolen, clandestine, equiv. to surrept ( us ), ptp. of surripere to steal, ( sur- SUR- 2 + rep-, comb. form of rapere to snatch, RAPE 1 + -tus ptp. suffix) + -icius -ITIOUS ]