devious
Cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frankCunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank.
Meaning
2 sensesCunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank.
heimtückisch, hinterrücks, unaufrichtig
кова́рныйkovárnyj, нече́стныйnečéstnyj, неи́скреннийneískrennij
хитрийxytryj, підступнийpidstupnyj
(archaic)Roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route.
abwegig, indirekt, krumm
око́льныйokólʹnyj, непрямо́йneprjamój
непрямийneprjamyj, звивистийzvyvystyj
- deviating from a straight course
- indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
- characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive
Examples
24 sentencesTranslations
6 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius (“out of the way, remote, off1590s, "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”). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related to deviously, deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."
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Forms
more devious, most devious| Comparative | more devious Lesson |
|---|---|
| Superlative | most devious Lesson |
regular
Synonyms
4 synonyms- deviating from a straight course:circuitousroundabout
- indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading:oblique
- characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive:shifty
Word family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form