devious
[dee-vee-uh s]
- departing from the most direct way; circuitous; indirect: a devious course.
- without definite course; vagrant: a devious current.
- departing from the proper or accepted way; roundabout: a devious procedure.
- not straightforward; shifty or crooked: a devious scheme to acquire wealth.
Show More
Origin of devious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for devious on Thesaurus.com1. roundabout, tortuous, involved. 4. subtle, cunning, crafty, artful, sly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for deviously
Contemporary Examples
But this hopeful breakthrough turned out to be no more than a deviously effective pretext for his escape.
Historical Examples
Before us was the high range of mountains toward which we had been all day deviously drawing near.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. XII (of 25)Robert Louis Stevenson
But my diffidence in doing so is such that I must approach it deviously, describing it first by means of a figure.
The Human MachineE. Arnold Bennett
Kate played in many of the pieces which, some openly, some deviously, he brought into the English stage from the French.
The Story of My LifeEllen Terry
To reach the restaurant, for which they were deviously steering, was the first relief.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 7 (of 25)Robert Louis Stevenson
Deviously, the race protected itself, or something higher watched over it to assure human continuity.
The Impossible Voyage HomeFloyd L. Wallace
devious
- not sincere or candid; deceitful; underhand
- (of a route or course of action) rambling; indirect; roundabout
- going astray from a proper or accepted way; erring
Show More
Word Origin
C16: from Latin dēvius lying to one side of the road, from de- + via road
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for deviously
devious
adj.
1590s, "out of the way," from Latin devius "out of the way, remote, off the main road," from de via (see deviate). Originally in the Latin literal sense; figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related: Deviously; deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper