Surreptitious \Sur`rep*ti"tious\, a. [L. surreptitius, or subreptitius, fr. surripere, subripere, to snatch away, to withdraw privily; sub- under + rapere to snatch. See {Sub-}, and {Ravish}.] Done or made by stealth, or without proper authority; made or introduced fraudulently; clandestine; stealthy; as, a surreptitious passage in an old manuscript; a surreptitious removal of goods. -- {Sur`rep*ti"tious*ly}, adv. web1913
surreptitious adj 1: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed; "a furtive manner"; "a lurking prowler"; "a sneak attack"; "stealthy footsteps"; "a surreptitious glance at his watch"; "someone skulking in the shadows" [syn: {furtive}, {lurking}, {skulking}, {sneak(a)}, {sneaky}, {stealthy}] 2: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; "clandestine intelligence operations"; "cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines"; "hole-and-corner intrigue"; "secret missions"; "a secret agent"; "secret sales of arms"; "surreptitious mobilization of troops"; "an undercover investigation"; "underground resistance" [syn: {clandestine}, {cloak-and-dagger}, {hole-and-corner(a)}, {hugger-mugger}, {hush-hush}, {on the quiet(p)}, {secret}, {undercover}, {underground}] wn