Furtive

Furtive is an adjective that means attempting to avoid notice or attention. The Latin word furtum (FOOR tomb) means theft. Our word of the day began with this meaning and, over time, evolved into its present meaning of ‘secretive’ or ‘hidden.’ Furtive can sometimes be used to convey a sense of guilty nervousness, as in: My diet prevents me from having anything loaded with sugar. But it didn’t stop me from taking many furtive glances at those cupcakes at the annual banquet last Monday.