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deviousness

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅vi⋅ous

  [dee-vee-uhs]
Use deviousness in a Sentence
–adjective
1. departing from the most direct way; circuitous; indirect: a devious course.
2. without definite course; vagrant: a devious current.
3. departing from the proper or accepted way; roundabout: a devious procedure.
4. not straightforward; shifty or crooked: a devious scheme to acquire wealth.
Origin:
1590–1600; < L dēvius out-of-the way, erratic, equiv. to dē- de- + -vius adj. deriv. of via way; see -ous

Related forms:
de⋅vi⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
de⋅vi⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. roundabout, tortuous, involved. 4. subtle, cunning, crafty, artful, sly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To deviousness
de·vi·ous   (dē'vē-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Not straightforward; shifty: a devious character.

  2. Departing from the correct or accepted way; erring: achieved success by devious means.

  3. Deviating from the straight or direct course; roundabout: a devious route.

  4. Away from a main road or course; distant or removed.


[From Latin dēvius, out-of-the-way : dē-, de- + via, road; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.]
de'vi·ous·ly adv., de'vi·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

devious 
1599, from L. devius "out of the way, remote," from de via (see deviate). Originally in the literal L. sense; figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1633.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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