All 5 Uses of
furtive
in
1984, by Orwell
- The pen was an archaic instrument, seldom used even for signatures, and he had procured one, furtively and with some difficulty, simply because of a feeling that the beautiful creamy paper deserved to be written on with a real nib instead of being scratched with an ink-pencil.†
p. 6.9furtively = while taking pains to avoid being observed; or in a nervous manner (as though hoping not to be seen)
- But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control.†
p. 34.2
- You could only get hold of them, if at all, by scrounging more or less furtively on the 'free' market.
p. 49.1 *furtively = taking pains to avoid being observed
- Mere debauchery did not matter very much, so long as it was furtive and joyless and only involved the women of a submerged and despised class.†
p. 65.3
- There she had remained for a year, helping to produce booklets in sealed packets with titles like Spanking Stories or One Night in a Girls' School, to be bought furtively by proletarian youths who were under the impression that they were buying something illegal.†
p. 130.8furtively = while taking pains to avoid being observed; or in a nervous manner (as though hoping not to be seen)
Definition:
taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)