different between clandescent vs furtive

English

Adjective

clandescent (comparative more clandescent, superlative most clandescent)

1. (nonstandard) secret, clandestine

   I had no idea she was having a clandescent affair.

   • 1940, Journal of Criminal Psychopathology (volume 2, page 96)

     The neurotic symptom in itself does not have solely the significance of repelling a drive for it also is a means of satisfying a desire in a clandescent manner.

   • 1989, Joseph P. O'Donnell, The Shoe Leather Express: February 6, 1945 to May 2, 1945, 86 days

     Also, other activities of a clandescent nature for the benefit not only of the prisoners but for the United States military authorities.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French furtif (“stealthy”), from Latin f?rt?vus (“stolen”), from f?rtum (“theft”), from f?r (“thief”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?f??t?v/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): [?f????v]
• (US) IPA^(key): [?f?.??v]

Adjective

furtive (comparative more furtive, superlative most furtive)

1. Stealthy.
2. Exhibiting guilty or evasive secrecy.
   • 1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, p31

     But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control.

Synonyms

• (stealthy): surreptitious
• See also Thesaurus:covert

Derived terms

• furtively
• furtiveness

Related terms

• ferret

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fy?.tiv/

Adjective

furtive

1. feminine singular of furtif

Italian

Adjective

furtive

1. feminine plural of furtivo

Latin

Adjective

f?rt?ve

1. masculine vocative singular of f?rt?vus

References

• furtive in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• furtive in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• furtive in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette