fugitive
pronunciation
How to pronounce fugitive in British English:
UK [ˈfju:dʒətɪv]
How to pronounce fugitive in American English:
US [ˈfjudʒɪtɪv]
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- Noun:
- someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
- someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to elude justice
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- Adjective:
- lasting for a markedly brief time
Word Origin
- fugitive
- fugitive: see refuge
- fugitive (n.)
- late 14c., "one who flees, a runaway, a fugitive from justice, an outlaw," from fugitive (adj.). Old French fugitif also was used as a noun meaning "fugitive person," and Latin fugitivus (adj.) commonly also was used as a noun meaning "a runaway, fugitive slave, deserter."
- fugitive (adj.)
- late 14c., "fleeing, having fled, having taken flight," from Old French fugitif, fuitif "absent, missing," from Latin fugitivus "fleeing," past participle adjective from stem of fugere "to flee, fly, take flight, run away; become a fugitive, leave the country, go into exile; pass quickly; vanish, disappear, perish; avoid, shun; escape the notice of, be unknown to," from PIE root *bheug- (1) "to flee" (cognates: Greek pheugein "to flee," Lithuanian bugstu "be frightened," bauginti "frighten someone," baugus "timid, nervous"). Old English had flyma. Meaning "lasting but a short time, fleeting" is from c. 1500. Hence its use in literature for short compositions written for passing occasions or purposes (1766).
Example
- 1. He was just another fugitive to us .
- 2. Would you take millions if you had to live as a fugitive ?
- 3. For now , though , he is a fugitive from thai justice .
- 4. Clay said a better law was needed for the return of fugitive slaves to their owners .
- 5. Agbank has also made headlines in china in recent weeks after one of its former branch managers was declared a fugitive by chinese authorities .