fugitive
[ fyoo-ji-tiv ]
/ ˈfyu dʒɪ tɪv /
noun
a person who is fleeing, from prosecution, intolerable circumstances, etc.; a runaway: a fugitive from justice; a fugitive from a dictatorial regime.
adjective
having taken flight, or run away: a fugitive slave.
fleeting; transitory; elusive: fugitive thoughts that could not be formulated.
Fine Arts.
changing color as a result of exposure to light and chemical substances present in the atmosphere, in other pigments, or in the medium.
dealing with subjects of passing interest, as writings; ephemeral: fugitive essays.
wandering, roving, or vagabond: a fugitive carnival.
Origin of fugitive
1350–1400; < Latin
fugitīvus fleeing, equivalent to
fugit(us) (past participle of
fugere to flee) +
-īvus
-ive; replacing Middle English
fugitif < Old French
SYNONYMS FOR fugitive
6 straying, roaming.
OTHER WORDS FROM fugitive
Words nearby fugitive
fugard,
fugato,
fuggedaboutit,
fugger,
fugio,
fugitive,
fugitive slave act,
fugitometer,
fugle,
fugleman,
fugly
Example sentences from the Web for fugitive
British Dictionary definitions for fugitive
fugitive
/ (ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv) /
noun
a person who flees
a thing that is elusive or fleeting
adjective
fleeing, esp from arrest or pursuit
not permanent; fleeting; transient
moving or roving about
Derived forms of fugitive
fugitively, adverb fugitiveness, nounWord Origin for fugitive
C14: from Latin
fugitīvus fleeing away, from
fugere to take flight, run away