Word: surreptitiously

Associations

"Surreptitiously" means doing something secretly or sneakily, without others noticing. It has a feeling of stealth or hidden actions.

• Example 1: "He surreptitiously glanced at his phone during the meeting." This shows he is looking at his phone quietly so no one sees.
• Example 2: "The children surreptitiously ate cookies before dinner." This indicates that they were trying to hide the fact they were eating cookies.
• Example 3: "She surreptitiously took notes while the detective spoke." This means she was writing down important information without drawing attention.

A synonym for "surreptitiously" is "clandestinely." The difference is that "clandestinely" usually implies an official or serious secret, while "surreptitiously" can be for small, everyday actions.

Substitution

You can use several words or phrases instead of "surreptitiously", depending on the context.

• "Secretly": This is more general and often implies hiding anything important.
• "Stealthily": Similar but focuses on moving quietly or without being seen, usually about actions.
• "Covertly": This often means done in a way that hides the intention or purpose, usually in a more strategic context.

Deconstruction

The word "surreptitiously" comes from the Latin root "surreptitius," which means "taken away" or "stolen." The prefix "sur-" means "from below" or "secretly," while the suffix "-tiously" is often used to form adverbs indicating quality or manner. This gives the word a sense of doing something quietly and secretly.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had to do something surreptitiously? What was the situation?
• In what situations might being surreptitious be useful or necessary?
• How does the idea of doing things surreptitiously relate to trust or honesty in relationships?