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surreptitious

sur·rep·ti·tious
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [sur-uh p-tish-uh s]
    • /ˌsɜr əpˈtɪʃ əs/
    • /ˌsʌr.əpˈtɪʃ.əs/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [sur-uh p-tish-uh s]
    • /ˌsɜr əpˈtɪʃ əs/

Definitions of surreptitious word

  • adjective surreptitious obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine: a surreptitious glance. 1
  • adjective surreptitious acting in a stealthy way. 1
  • adjective surreptitious obtained by subreption; subreptitious. 1
  • adjective surreptitious secretive 1
  • adjective surreptitious A surreptitious action is done secretly. 0
  • adjective surreptitious done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means 0

Information block about the term

Origin of surreptitious

First appearance:

before 1400
One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English < Latin surreptīcius stolen, clandestine, equivalent to surrept(us), past participle of surripere to steal, (sur- sur-2 + rep-, combining form of rapere to snatch, rape1 + -tus past participle suffix) + -īcius -itious

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Surreptitious

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

surreptitious popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 87% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

surreptitious usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for surreptitious

adj surreptitious

  • avantgarde — the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.
  • backdoor — You can use backdoor to describe an action or process if you disapprove of it because you think it has been done in a secret, indirect, or dishonest way.
  • backstairs — a secondary staircase in a house, esp one originally for the use of servants
  • clandestine — Something that is clandestine is hidden or kept secret, often because it is illegal.
  • cloak-and-dagger — A cloak-and-dagger activity is one which involves mystery and secrecy.

noun surreptitious

  • chicane — a bridge or whist hand without trumps
  • chicanery — Chicanery is using cleverness to cheat people.
  • confidentiality — spoken, written, acted on, etc., in strict privacy or secrecy; secret: a confidential remark.
  • furtiveness — taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: a furtive glance.
  • clandestineness — The state or quality of being clandestine.

adjective surreptitious

  • cloaked — Wearing a cloak.
  • confidence — If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
  • darkness — the state or quality of being dark: The room was in total darkness.
  • hush — to become or be silent or quiet: They hushed as the judge walked in.
  • imperceivable — That cannot be perceived; imperceptible.

Antonyms for surreptitious

noun surreptitious

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See also

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