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