Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

furtively

/ˈfɜːtɪvli/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.23 in modern English

Syllables: furtive-ly
IPA: /ˈfɜːtɪvli/

18

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a furtive manner.

Example Sentences

"And furtively Time looked him in the face and edged towards him fingering with his dripping fingers the hilt of his nimble sword."
"The only diversions I recall were a pair of Avocets flying over, and a young lady who regularly each afternoon furtively crept into the dunes [...] and crouched down for a clandestine wee!"

Etymology

From Middle English furtyvely; equivalent to furtive + -ly.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: furtyvely

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈfɜːtɪvli/

Inflected Forms

more furtively (comparative) most furtively (superlative)

Synonyms

secretively surreptitiously on the sly

Rhymes With

assertively

Questions

How do you pronounce furtively?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɜːtɪvli/.
What does furtively mean?: In a furtive manner.
Where does furtively come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce furtively

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “furtively”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfɜːtɪvli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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