Lexic.us

Definition of Devious

1. Adjective. Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading. "Oblique political maneuvers"

2. Adjective. Characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive. "Shifty eyes"

3. Adjective. Deviating from a straight course. "A roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic"

Definition of Devious

1. a. Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way.

Definition of Devious

1. Adjective. Deviating; not straightforward or honest, not frank; not standard. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Devious

1. indirect [adj] - See also: indirect

Lexicographical Neighbors of Devious

devilless devillike devilline devilling devilment devilments devilries devilry devils devilship

deviltries deviltry devilwood devilwoods deviometer devious (current term) deviously deviousness deviousnesses devirgination

devirginations devisable devisal devisals devise devised devisee devisees

Literary usage of Devious

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Democracy and the Eastern Question: The Problem of the Far East as by Thomas Franklin Millard (1919)
"JAPAN'S course during the war was so devious and at times so oblique that only by keeping clearly in mind its ruling motive is her policy comprehensible. ..."

2. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1892)
"The pale flame colored ries ; by the mill and its weeping willows ; and below, by devious loops, to Hatton Rock, that the picnickers from Stratford know—a ..."

3. The Seasons by James Thomson (1744)
"... the wildly-devious Morning-walk? Bu T yonder comes the powerful King of Day, 80 Rejoicing in the Eaft. ..."

4. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"Life was brought into the chaos of cosmic dust, cold and dark as it was from the first, by a devious variety of motions, after the fashion of Descartes's ..."

5. Bushido: the Soul of Japan: An Exposition of Japanese Thought by Inazō Nitobe (1899)
"... take my readers into the devious paths of our national history ; the second will be dwelt upon at greater length, as being most likely to ..."

6. English Hymns: Their Authors and History by Samuel Willoughby Duffield (1886)
"In devious way," 1823. " God is love ! His mercy brightens," 1825. " Watchman, tell us of the night," 1825. " In the Cross of Christ I glory," 1825. ..."

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