Pronunciation: [səɹɪptˈɪʃəsli] (IPA) 
The word "surreptitiously" is spelled /səˌrɛpˈtɪʃəsli/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/ and the next syllable begins with an "r" sound followed by a short "e" sound /ɛ/. The third syllable has the "p" sound followed by a short "i" sound /ɪ/ and the final syllable has the "sh" sound /ʃ/ followed by a long "i" sound /i/. Phonetically, this complex word can be written as "suh-rep-tish-uhs-lee".
Surreptitiously is an adverb that describes an action or behavior that is characterized by being secretive, sneaky, or done without attracting attention. It suggests an intention to avoid detection or to hide one's true purposes or actions. The term often implies a sense of guilt or wrongdoing, as the action is performed in a furtive manner.
When someone behaves surreptitiously, they are attempting to conceal their actions or motives, typically from others who may disapprove or take offense. This may involve performing an action in secret, such as stealing without being noticed or eavesdropping on a conversation without the knowledge of those involved.
The term can also be applied to situations in which an individual acts covertly to gain an advantage or to manipulate a situation to their benefit. For example, a competitor in a business may surreptitiously gather sensitive information about their rivals, or a student might surreptitiously copy answers during an exam.
Surreptitiously implies a clandestine approach, with an individual deliberately attempting to conceal their actions or intentions. It suggests a level of deception, stealthiness, or slyness in the execution of these actions. The term is often related to acts that are considered morally or legally wrong, as surreptitious behavior generally involves an element of deceit or dishonesty.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "surreptitiously" has an etymology that can be traced back to Latin. It is derived from the Latin adverb "surreptīcius", which means "stolen or secret". This is derived from the past participle of the verb "surrepere", which means "to steal secretly" or "to creep up on". The word later entered Middle English as "surrepticiouse" and eventually evolved into its current form, "surreptitiously".
