deviousness
vi 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; < Latin dēvius out-of-the way, erratic, equivalent to dē- de- + -vius adj. derivative of via way; see -ous
1590–1600; < Latin dēvius out-of-the way, erratic, equivalent to dē- de- + -vius adj. derivative of via way; see -ous
Related forms
de·vi·ous·ly, adverb
de·vi·ous·ness, noun
non·de·vi·ous, adjective
non·de·vi·ous·ly, adverb
non·de·vi·ous·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. roundabout, tortuous, involved. 4. subtle, cunning, crafty, artful, sly.
1. roundabout, tortuous, involved. 4. subtle, cunning, crafty, artful, sly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To deviousness
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Deviousness
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
devious (ˈdiːvɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not sincere or candid; deceitful; underhand |
| 2. | (of a route or course of action) rambling; indirect; roundabout |
| 3. | going astray from a proper or accepted way; erring |
| [C16: from Latin dēvius lying to one side of the road, from | |
| 'deviously | |
| —adv | |
| 'deviousness | |
| —n | |
| devious (ˈdiːvɪəs) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not sincere or candid; deceitful; underhand |
| 2. | (of a route or course of action) rambling; indirect; roundabout |
| 3. | going astray from a proper or accepted way; erring |
| [C16: from Latin dēvius lying to one side of the road, from | |
| 'deviously | |
| —adv | |
| 'deviousness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
devious
1590s, from L. devius "out of the way, remote," from de via (see deviate). Originally in the Latin literal sense; figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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