furtive

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰer-“to bear, carry”
2. Latin · derived fromfūrtīvus“clandestine, furtive, secret; concealed, hidden; stolen”
3. Middle French · derived fromfurtif
4. Middle English · inherited from*furtyve
5. English todayfurtive

From Middle English *furtyve (implied in furtyvely (adverb)), from Middle French furtif, furtive (“furtive, stealthy”) (modern French furtif), from Latin fūrtīvus (“clandestine, furtive, secret; concealed, hidden; stolen”), from fūrtum (“theft; robbery”) (from fūr (“thief”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”)) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives).

Words from the same roots