FUGITIVE

fleeting, fugitive, momentaneous, momentary

(adjective) lasting for a markedly brief time; “a fleeting glance”; “fugitive hours”; “rapid momentaneous association of things that meet and pass”; “a momentary glimpse”

fugitive, fugitive from justice

(noun) someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to elude justice

fugitive, runaway, fleer

(noun) someone who flees from an uncongenial situation; “fugitives from the sweatshops”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

fugitive (plural fugitives)

A person who flees or escapes and travels secretly from place to place, and sometimes using disguises and aliases to conceal his/her identity, as to avoid law authorities in order to avoid an arrest or prosecution; or to avoid some other unwanted situation.

Synonyms

• abscotchalater (archaic)

• nomad

• wanderer

• runaway

Adjective

fugitive (comparative more fugitive, superlative most fugitive)

fleeing or running away

transient, fleeting or ephemeral

elusive or difficult to retain

Source: Wiktionary

Fu"gi*tive, a. Etym: [OE. fugitif, F. fugitif, fr. L. fugitivus, fr. fugere to flee. See Bow to bend, and cf. Feverfew.]

1. Fleeing from pursuit, danger, restraint, etc., escaping, from service, duty etc.; as, a fugitive solder; a fugitive slave; a fugitive debtor. The fugitive Parthians follow. Shak. Can a fugitive daughter enjoy herself while her parents are in tear Richardson A libellous pamphlet of a fugitive physician. Sir H. Wotton.

2. Not fixed; not durable; liable to disappear or fall away; volatile; uncertain; evanescent; liable to fade; -- applied to material and immaterial things; as, fugitive colors; a fugitive idea. The me more tender and fugitive parts, the leaves . . . of vegatables. Woodward. Fugitive compositions, Such as are short and occasional, and so published that they quickly escape notice.

Syn.

– Fleeting; unstable; wandering; uncertain; volatile; fugacious; fleeing; evanescent.

Fu"gi*tive, n.

1. One who flees from pursuit, danger, restraint, service, duty, etc.; a deserter; as, a fugitive from justice.

2. Something hard to be caught or detained. Or Catch that airy fugitive called wit. Harte. Fugitive from justice (Law), one who, having committed a crime in one jurisdiction, flees or escapes into another to avoid punishment.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition