a. [f. STEALTH + -Y.] Of movement or action: Taking place by stealth; calculated to elude observation; proceeding by imperceptible degrees; furtive. Of persons or things: Moving or acting by stealth or secretly; furtive in movement or action; stealing on by imperceptible degrees.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. i. 54. Wither’d Murder … With his stealthy pace … towards his designe Moues like a Ghost.
1728–46. Thomson, Spring, 689. With stealthy wing … Amid a neighbouring bush they silent drop.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxxi. There was much stealthy going in and out.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., II. 240. The stealthy evil crept on irresistibly.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xiii. Casting stealthy glances at the fen, to see if the mysterious mare was still there.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxiv. 461. A series of gradual and stealthy encroachments on the rights of the people.
1899. [Elizabeth von Arnim] Solitary Summer, 58. Turning my head to watch a stealthy cat, my face brushed against a wet truss of blossom and got its first morning washing.
1907. J. H. Patterson, Man-Eaters of Tsavo, xv. 169. I saw a jackal come up on its trail … not even rustling a fallen leaf in its stealthy advance on the poor little antelope.
Comb. 1839–52. Bailey, Festus, 320. The dashing dog, and stealthy-stepping cat.
Hence Stealthiness.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. vii. Dumouriez … started from brief slumber at Sedan,… with stealthiness, with promptitude, audacity.
1869. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. x. 9, I. 126. The cunning of the lion, and of the huntsman, as well as the stealthiness of the robber.
