devious

views updated May 29 2018

de·vi·ous / ˈdēvēəs/ • adj. 1. showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals: he's as devious as a politician needs to be they have devious ways of making money.2. (of a route or journey) longer and less direct than the most straightforward way: they arrived at the town by a devious route.DERIVATIVES: de·vi·ous·ly adv.de·vi·ous·ness n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

devious

views updated Jun 11 2018

devious lying out of the way XVI; deviating from the direct way XVII. f. L. dēvius, f. DE- 2 + via way; see -OUS.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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