furtive: [15] Etymologically, someone who is furtive ‘carries things away like a thief’. The word comes via Old French furtif from Latin furtīvus ‘stealthy, hidden’, a derivative of furtum ‘theft’, which in turn was based on fūr ‘thief’. This was either borrowed from or related to Greek phór ‘thief’, which came ultimately from Indo-European *bher- ‘carry’ (source of English bear) and thus meant literally ‘someone who carries things off’. A ferret is etymologically a ‘furtive’ animal. => bear, ferret
furtive (adj.)
16c., from Middle French furtif (16c.), from Latin furtivus "stolen," hence also "hidden, secret," from furtum "theft, robbery; a stolen thing," from fur (genitive furis) "a thief, extortioner," also a general term of abuse, "rascal, rogue," probably from PIE *bhor-, from root *bher- (1) "to carry" (see infer). Related: Furtiveness.
实用例句
1. She was furtive and vicious by temperament.
她本来做事就偷偷摸摸，心肠狠毒。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder.
她心里不安，回头偷偷瞥了一下。
来自《权威词典》
3. The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.
老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.
他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5. Presently the boy began to steal furtive glances at the girl.
