surreptitious — kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/
Example Sentences
- He made surreptitious trips to the fridge during his diet.
- The students exchanged surreptitious notes during the boring lecture.
- She gave him a surreptitious kick under the table when he said something embarrassing.
surreptitious
ADJECTIVE[/ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/]
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
The intern took a surreptitious glance at the confidential file on the boss's desk.
Behind delicious bites, surreptitious shots avoid suspicious eyes!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin surreptitius, meaning 'stolen' or 'obtained by stealth.' The root comes from surripere, which literally means 'to snatch away secretly.'
Breakdown
sur- (under/secretly) + rep- (to seize/snatch) + -titious (adjective suffix meaning 'characterized by')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“He made surreptitious trips to the fridge during his diet.”
“The students exchanged surreptitious notes during the boring lecture.”
“She gave him a surreptitious kick under the table when he said something embarrassing.”
“The spy conducted surreptitious surveillance of the embassy.”
📚Related Words
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