Dictionary.com

5 results for: insidious Browse Nearby Entries
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
in·sid·i·ous    Audio Help   [in-sid-ee-uhs] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.
2.stealthily treacherous or deceitful: an insidious enemy.
3.operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect: an insidious disease.
[Origin: 1535–45; < L insidiōsus deceitful, equiv. to insidi(ae) (pl.) an ambush (deriv. of insidére to sit in or on) + -ōsus -ous]

—Related forms
in·sid·i·ous·ly, adverb
in·sid·i·ous·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. corrupting. 2. artful, cunning, wily, subtle, crafty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
insidious

To learn more about insidious visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
in·sid·i·ous    Audio Help   (ĭn-sĭd'ē-əs)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner: insidious rumors; an insidious disease.
  2. Intended to entrap; treacherous: insidious misinformation.
  3. Beguiling but harmful; alluring: insidious pleasures.


[From Latin īnsidiōsus, from īnsidiae, ambush, from īnsidēre, to sit upon, lie in wait for : in-, in, on; see in-2 + sedēre, to sit; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

in·sid'i·ous·ly adv., in·sid'i·ous·ness n.
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
insidious 
1545, from L. insidiosus "deceitful," from insidiæ (pl.) "plot, snare, ambush," from insidere "sit on, occupy," from in- "in" + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
insidious

adjective
1. beguiling but harmful; "insidious pleasures" 
2. intended to entrap 
3. working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way; "glaucoma is an insidious disease"; "a subtle poison" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Insidious

In*ses"sion\, n. [L. insessio, fr. insidere, insessum, to sit in. See Insidious.]

1. The act of sitting, as in a tub or bath. "Used by way of fomentation, insession, or bath." [R.] --Holland.

2. That in which one sits, as a bathing tub. [R.]

Insessions be bathing tubs half full. --Holland.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Browse Nearby Entries:

inside's
inside-out
insider
insider information
insider preference
insider trader
insider trading
insider trading and secur..
insider trading sanctions..
insider's
insiders
insiders'
insides
insides'
insidiate
insidiator
insidious
insidiously
insidiousness
insight
insight ii
insight meditation
insight's
insightful
insightfully
insightfulness
insights
insights'
insigne
insigne's
insignes
insignes'
insignia

View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web

Share This:   Share This: del.icio.usShare This: digg.comShare This: FacebookShare This: furl.netShare This: www.netscape.comShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: www.google.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: blinklist.comShare This: newsvine.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: reddit.comShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: tailrank.com

Perform a new search, or try your search for "insidious" at: