surreptitiously
|sur/rep/ti/tious/ly|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəsli/
🇬🇧
/ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəsli/
(surreptitious)
secretive action
Etymology
Etymology Information
'surreptitious' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'surrepticius,' where 'sub-' meant 'under' and 'rapere' meant 'to seize.'
Historical Evolution
'surrepticius' transformed into the French word 'surreptice,' and eventually became the modern English word 'surreptitious' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to seize secretly,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'done secretly or stealthily.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively.
She surreptitiously glanced at her watch during the meeting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45