devious
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius "out of the way, remote, off the main road," from de via; from de "off" (see de-) + via "way, road" (see via). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related: Deviously; deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
devious (comparative more devious, superlative most devious)
- cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank
- roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route
- 1801, Robert Southey, Thalaba the Destroyer:
- The wandering Arab never sets his tent
Within her walls; the Shepherd eyes afar
Her evil towers, and devious drives his flock.
- The wandering Arab never sets his tent
- 1839, Frederick Marryat, The Phantom Ship:
- Keeping close in to the shore, they discovered, after two hours run, a fresh stream which burst in a cascade from the mountains, and swept its devious course through the jungle, until it poured its tribute into the waters of the Strait.
- 1801, Robert Southey, Thalaba the Destroyer:
Translations[edit]
cunning or deceiving, not straightforward
roundabout, circuitous, deviating
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
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