fugitiveadj.n.
/ˈfjuːdʒᵻtɪv/, U.S. /ˈfjudʒədɪv/ A. adj. (Formerly sometimes with inflected plural, esp. in legal phrases after Anglo-Norman.)† 2. Driven out, banished, exiled. Const. from, of.
1. figurative.1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xx. sig. M1v Fugitiue Diuines, that like cowards..runne away from their Text.1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 12 A fugitive and cloister'd vertue..that never sallies out and sees her adversary.figurative.1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Evv By what crafte..the kyng maye..drawe to him agayne fugatyue Naples.1704 Addr. Glamorgan in London Gaz. No. 4064/6 For him it was reserved to reduce fugitive Victory to her former Mistriss's Land.† c. Of a substance (e.g. the metal mercury): Escaping from or eluding the grasp, slippery. Obsolete. rare.
a. Apt or tending to flee; given to, or in the act of, running away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > [adjective] > running away > given to
fugitivea1616
fugacious1651
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. i. 7 Whil'st yet with Parthian blood thy Sword is warme, The Fugitiue Parthians follow. View more context for this quotation
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. xv. 200 Hee..was not much pleased with this fugitiue course.
a1704 T. Brown Pleasant Epist. in Wks. (1707) I. ii. 4 Call back our fugitive Mercers from Covent-garden.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiv. 68 His oars with fugitive hurry the waters beat.
b. That has taken flight, esp. from duty, an enemy, justice, or a master. †Also, of a debtor: Intending flight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > [adjective] > running away > having run away
fugitive1467
forloppin?a1513
runaway1548
runagate1653
absconded1735
decamped1887
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 376 That no citezein be attached by his body as fugityf.
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 48 §2 Catalles of felons fugitif.
a1527 R. Thorne in R. Hakluyt Divers Voy. (1582) sig. C4 That none should receiue ye others subiects fugitiues.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges xii. 5 Now whan one of ye fugityue Ephraites dyd saye [etc.].
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 139 If it be my lucke to recover the fugitive fellowe [a slave].
1597 J. Skene De Verborum Significatione 120 Malefactoures quha are fugitive fra the law.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) xxiv. xxx. 530 There were scourged and beheaded of fugitive traitours, to the number of two thousand.
1613 H. Finch Law (1636) 78 In London, if the debtor be fugitive, that the creditor before the day of payment may arrest him to find better surety.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 16 The wrauth Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursu'd Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall. View more context for this quotation
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. xxxi. 168 To countenance a fugitive daughter, in opposition to her parents.
1753 R. Glover Boadicea i. i. 3 Come from your hills, ye fugitive remains Of shatter'd cohorts.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 99 To implore the pardon of a poor fugitive negress.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 224 The fugitive Englishry found in England..munificent relief.
1880 ‘E. Kirke’ Life J. A. Garfield 19 This was the first instance in which a Union officer refused to return a fugitive slave.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > oiliness or greasiness > [adjective] > of the nature of oil > oily and slippery
sliddera1000
slippera1050
fugitivec1485
slippery1551
lubricous1659
soapy1732
saponaceous1837
lubricate1848
fugacious1872
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 318 Þe fegetyff mercury [perteynyng] on-to mercuryus.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > exile or state of > [adjective]
flemedc1275
fugitivec1384
exileda1398
relegatec1425
banished1578
self-exiled1596
relegated1611
deporteda1632
exulant1636
ejected1649
exterminated1694
expatriated1768
expatriate1812
dépaysé1909
déraciné1921
society > authority > punishment > outlawry > [adjective] > exiled or banished
fugitivec1384
ybanysshedc1385
exileda1398
banished1578
transported1729
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame i. 146 That first came thorgh his destanee ffugityfe of Troy Contree In Italye.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. i. 4 The man..that fugitive By fait to Itale coyme.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) ix. 64 He vas fugitiue fra al cuntreis.
c1560 R. Morice in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 25 I became fugityve frome myn awne house.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales ii. i. 34 The Armenians..receiued the fugitiue Vonones.
3. Moving from place to place; flitting, shifting, vagabond. Also figurative. Fickle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [adjective] > moving hither and thither
fugitive1481
discursive1626
volatile1654
various1725
pillar-to-post1886
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [adjective] > with no fixed aim or wandering
wanderingc1000
erringa1340
waggeringa1382
vagant1382
vagabond1426
erroneousa1464
fugitive1481
wavering1487
vagrantc1522
gadding1545
roaming1566
roving1576
straggling1589
rambling?1609
wagand1614
wheelinga1616
gadling1616
vagring1619
erratical1620
vaguing1627
erratic1656
planetical1656
waif1724
vagrarious1795
stravaiging1825
vagarious1882
pirooting1958
1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) cxxxi. 195 (heading) How guyllem de grateuylle and his felaws fugytyfs cam in to Allexandrye the lasse.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos ii. 16 This noble companye..now vacabonde and fugytyf by the feeldes dardanike.
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. f. 370v/1 The Pictauians..fugitiue, and vnstable.
1615 J. Stephens Satyrical Ess. 277 His helpe extends farre and neere to fugitive Raga-muffins.
1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) i. iii. i. ii. 176 Restlesse,..fickle, fugitiue, they may not abide to tarry in one place long.
1662 R. Mathews Unlearned Alchymist (new ed.) §114. 186 I pity thy fugitive mind, and pray for thee, when I see thee hunt from one man to another, and from one Medicine unto another.
1883 Macfadyen in Congregational Year Bk. 72 Fugitive preachers make fugitive congregations.
1893 Daily News 26 Apr. 2/3 With fugitive securities, which move between London and foreign stock markets.
4.
a. Of immaterial things: Evanescent, fleeting, of short duration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > [adjective]
slidinga900
scrithingOE
henwardOE
swifta1225
short livya1325
passing1340
flittingc1374
shadowy1374
temporalc1384
speedfula1400
transitory?c1400
brittlea1425
unabidingc1430
frail?c1450
indurablec1450
scrithel?c1475
caduke1483
transitorious1492
passanta1500
perishinga1500
caducea1513
fugitive?1518
caducal?1548
quick1548
delible1549
flittering1549
undurable?1555
shadowish1561
fleeting1563
vading1566
flightful1571
wanzing1571
transitive1575
slipping1581
diary1583
unlasting1585
never-lasting1588
flit1590
post-like1594
running1598
short-lived1598
short-winded1598
transient1599
unpermanent1607
flashy1609
of a day1612
passable1613
dureless1614
urgenta1616
waxena1616
decayable1617
horary1620
evanid1626
fugitable1628
short-dated1632
fugacious1635
ephemerala1639
impermanent1653
fungous1655
volatile1655
ephemerousa1660
unimmortal1667
timesome1674
while-being1674
of passage1680
journal1685
ephemeron1714
admovent1727
evanescent1728
meteorous1750
deciduous1763
preterient1786
ephemeridal1795
meteorica1802
meteor1803
ephemerean1804
ephemerid1804
evanescing1805
fleeted1810
fleet1812
unenduring1814
unremaining1817
unimmortalized1839
impersistent1849
flighty1850
uneternal1862
caducous1863
diurnal1866
horarious1866
brisk1879
evasive1881
picaresque1959
?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Bivv This short lyfe present, as shadowe fugytyfe.
1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 124 Fugitive follies, and fading pleasures.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 99 In Youth alone, unhappy Mortals live; But, ah! the mighty Bliss is fugitive . View more context for this quotation
1743 R. Blair Grave 30 Bless'd as the pleasing Dreams of Holy Men; But fugitive like those.
1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini iv. 7 The woe was earthly, fugitive, is past.
1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks I. vi. 162 A fugitive gleam lit up the Vales of Athens and Sparta.
1877 E. Dowden Shakspere (Macmillan Lit. Primers) iv. 41 The latter—the weak endings—are more fugitive and evanescent in character.
b. Of impressions, colours, etc.: Quickly fading or becoming effaced. Less correctly of material substances: Perishable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > decayed > liable to decay
caduke1483
perishablec1484
caducea1513
caducal?1548
ruinable1654
fugitive1678
consumptive1724
unpreservable1787
caducous1863
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > [adjective] > of impressions, colours, etc.
fugitive1678
1678 R. Russel tr. Jabir ibn Haiyan Wks. Geber i. v. 12 For the Fire..consumes every Fugitive and inflammable Substance.
1702 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth (ed. 2) 269 The more tender and fugitive Parts, the Leaves.
1822 T. Webster Imison's Elem. Sci. & Art (new ed.) II. 188 The colour is extremely fugitive.
1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 81 The materials used in the fugitive dyes.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. viii. xxix. 574 Letters written on fugitive materials.
1879 Printing Trades Jrnl. No. 26. 30 Cerise, like most aniline colors, is fugitive.
c. Of a chemical substance: Volatile. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [adjective] > of or relating to reactivity
fugitive1666
unfixed1669
reactive1863
the world > matter > gas > becoming or making into gas > [adjective] > connected with or producing vaporization > able to be vaporized > volatile
flying1471
spirituala1500
volatile1605
fugitive1666
fugacious1671
volitablea1690
incoercible1710
1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qual. (1667) 48 Quicksilver..may be turn'd into..a Fugitive Smoak.
1685 R. Boyle Short Mem. Hist. Mineral Waters 76 Spirituous and Fugitive Exhalations.
1850 C. G. B. Daubeny Introd. Atomic Theory (ed. 2) x. 324 A fixed carbonate..heated along with an ammoniacal compound of a less fugitive description.
d. Botany. Of flowers and petals: Soon falling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > growth, movement, or curvature of parts > [adjective] > permanent or discarded
shedc1430
deciduous1657
marcescent1727
fugacious1750
permanent1776
shrivelling1776
persisting1777
persistent1785
sphacelate1785
shedding1796
sphacelated1806
caducous1808
restant1828
fugitive1830
horarious1866
1830 J. Lindley Introd. Nat. Syst. Bot. 151 [Of the Rock-rose Tribe] Petals 5, hypogynous, very fugitive.
1830 J. Lindley Introd. Nat. Syst. Bot. 151 Their beautiful fugitive flowers.
5. Of a literary composition (occasionally of a writer): Concerned or dealing with subjects of passing interest; ephemeral, occasional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > [adjective] > of passing interest
fugitive1766
temporary1777
society > leisure > the arts > literature > [adjective] > specific types of literature > occasional
occasional1687
fugitive1766
1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide ii. iii. 17 At least, when he chooses his Book to increase, I may take a small Flight as a fugitive Piece.
1820 Ld. Byron Blues ii. 95 You're a fugitive writer, I think, sir, of rhymes?
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. p. vii Various fugitive publications of the day.
1864 Spectator 9 Apr. 423 The greater part of periodical literature is meant to be, and ought to remain, fugitive.
B. n.
1. † b. A deserter. Obsolete.† d. One that abandons a monastic life. Obsolete. rare.
a. One who flees or tries to escape from danger, an enemy, justice, or an owner. Cf. A. 1. Occasionally one who intends flight. to declare a person a fugitive (Scots Law): to pronounce sentence of fugitation n. upon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > [noun] > flight or running away > one who runs away
fugitive1382
runner1440
fleer1488
flyera1500
fugitour1533
runaway1534
runagate1539
fleeter1581
sure flight1599
runagadea1604
deserter?a1645
refugee1754
fly-away1838
skedaddler1864
lamster1904
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > one who escapes > from confinement or the law
fugitive1382
prison breaker1704
evader1754
refugee1754
absentee1803
escapee1875
escapado1881
escapist1934
jackrabbit1980
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > one who escapes > one who evades
fugitive1382
jouker1573
nimble Jack1682
evader1754
society > authority > punishment > outlawry > outlaw [verb (transitive)]
outlawOE
waive1297
proscribea1500
proclaim?a1513
to put (also denounce) to the hornc1540
horn1592
bandit1611
forbida1616
intercommune1679
intercommona1715
fugitate1721
to declare a person a fugitive1752
imban1807
ban1848
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Num. xxxv. 11 Fugityues that not wilnyng sheeden blood.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) vi. 66 Men resceyved there all manere of Fugityfes of other places.
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 405 Though it so be the seid fugitif fynd suerte to answer to the accion comencyd ayenst hym.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. vii. 16 To fugityues vnneth or with grete payne cometh agayn the herte to fighte.
1576 A. Fleming tr. P. Vatinius in Panoplie Epist. 128 Your clearke or Secretarie, hath plaide the fugitive or runnagate.
1667–1708 Termes de la Ley 357 Fugitives Goods are the proper goods of him that flies upon felony, which, after the Flight lawfully found, do belong to the King. [The AF. version has fugitives biens, as if the word were an adj.; but the passage of Coke referred to (Rep. v. 109 b) has bona fugitivorum.]
1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. 252 That man (saith he [Antoninus]) is to be esteemed a fugitive and an apostate, who runs away from his master.
1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 147 The Persons contained in the Criminal Letters, and formerly declared Fugitives.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany III. 473 The approach of the Turks filled the town with crowds of fugitives.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid i, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 87 Dido..a fugitive here Fled from a brother.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > deserter
transfuge1548
fugitive1553
transfuger1611
deserter1667
bounty-jumper1875
bug-out1956
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. v. f. 94 It was there shewed him by fugitiues that came out of Darius camp, that he was fled with al spede into Bactria.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xxv. 11 The fugitiues that fell away to the king of Babylon. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. x. 21 But let the world ranke me in Register A Master leauer, and a fugitiue . View more context for this quotation
1659 J. Pearson Expos. Creed (1839) 293 The Romans themselves accounted it a servile punishment, and inflicted it upon their slaves and fugitives.
c. One who quits or is banished from his country; an exile, refugee.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > exile > [noun]
wretchc888
flemeOE
outflemec1300
exilec1330
flemingc1374
exulatec1470
relegate?c1550
exul1573
fugitivea1616
deportee1895
dépaysé1909
déraciné1921
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. vii. 67 Who then, but English Henry, will be Lord, And thou be thrust out, like a Fugitiue ? View more context for this quotation
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 48 Rome..is the Seminary and Nursery of English Fugitives.
1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. vi. 154 This is what that herd of Fugitives and Vagabonds hired you to write.
1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. v. xxxvi. 265 The Greek fugitives from Constantinople promoted a taste for eloquence.
1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 58 Fugitives from the Spanish and American frontiers.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity I. ii. i. 106 The fugitives from Rome were found in all parts of the world.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > monastic profession > secularization > [noun] > person undergoing
fugitive1482
1482 Monk of Evesham 84 Religyous persons that were fugytyuys that is to sey that ranne oute of her order.
2. One who shifts about or moves from place to place; a vagabond, wanderer. Applied also to the lower animals.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [noun] > without fixed aim or wandering > wanderer
striker1393
roamerc1400
wandererc1440
whirlerc1440
gangrela1450
fluttererc1450
straggler1530
gadlinga1542
ranger1560
rover1568
fugitive1570
rangler1575
fleeter1581
extravagant1583
scatterling1590
vagranta1592
rambler1624
erratic1669
stravaiger1821
multivagant1895
the world > animals > by habits or actions > [noun] > that roves or wanders
rover1568
fugitive1688
roita1779
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 2250/1 If thou were an honest woman, thou wouldest not..runne about the country like a fugitiue.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 239/1 [A] Fugitive..is a Hawk that rangleth and wandreth abroad.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 127 When the Swarms..idly stray, Restrain the wanton Fugitives . View more context for this quotation
3. Something fugitive; something fleeting, or that eludes the grasp. Obsolete except with personification.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > that which is elusive
fugitive1683
pimpernel1945
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > [noun] > transience > transient thing or being
shadowa1272
breathc1275
cloudc1384
cherry-fair1393
transitorya1500
fume1531
forwhilea1557
flitter1623
ephemeran1643
daysman1658
transient1660
fugitive1683
transiency1728
ephemera1751
ephemeron1771
perishable1822
toadstool1823
evanescence1830
a sometime thing1935
1683 J. Pettus Fleta Minor (1686) i. 242 They [light ores] cannot well be brought into compass, for they rise for the most part in the Water, and are fugitives.
1690 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 316 You would not exchange your inward consolation, for the return of all those external fugitives you once enjoyed.
1767 W. Harte Amaranth 79 What Muse but his can nature's beauties hit, Or catch that airy fugitive, call'd wit.
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 110 Thou eternal fugitive Hovering over all that live.
Derivatives
ˈfugitive v. (transitive) to make fugitive, drive into exile.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1864 J. B. Greenshields Ann. Parish Lesmahagow vi. 116 Her son Thomas was fugitived in the persecution.
Categories »
ˈfugitively adv. rare in a fugitive manner (Webster 1864).Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ˈfugitiˌvism n. the condition of a fugitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > [noun] > flight or running away > condition of
fugacyc1600
fugacity1656
fugitivity1843
fugitivism1877
1877 D. M. Wallace Russia xxix. 468 This change in the position of the peasantry..naturally increased fugitivism and vagrancy.
fugiˈtivity n. the quality or state of being fugitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > [noun] > flight or running away > condition of
fugacyc1600
fugacity1656
fugitivity1843
fugitivism1877
1843 W. S. Landor Let. 16 Apr. in R. R. Madden Life C'tess Blessington (ed. 2) II. 411 What fugitivities in this lower world of ours!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.n.1382