DEVIOUS Meaning and
Definition
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Devious is an adjective that describes someone or something that is characterized by a subtle, cunning, or deceitful nature. It refers to individuals who are crafty and skillful in manipulating situations or people to achieve their own objectives, often by using underhanded or dishonest means.
The term can also be used to describe actions, behavior, or plans that are intended to deceive, mislead, or trick others. A devious plan or scheme often involves a calculated and strategic approach, designed to avoid suspicion or detection. It implies a level of secrecy and a deliberate deviation from straightforward or honest conduct.
People who are devious possess the ability to outsmart or manipulate others through their slyness, cleverness, and ability to twist situations to their advantage. Their actions may be characterized by a lack of moral integrity or ethical principles, as they consistently choose the path of deceit over honesty.
Additionally, devious can be used to describe objects or paths that are cunningly or deliberately designed to be indirect in order to confuse or thwart the progress or understanding of others. For example, a devious maze may be constructed with intentionally intricate and misleading routes to puzzle participants.
Overall, devious is a term that captures the essence of craftiness, guile, and dishonesty, reflecting a person or thing's ability to manipulate, deceive, or stray from straightforwardness in order to reach their desired goals.
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• Out of the common track; wandering; roving; going astray.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for DEVIOUS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for DEVIOUS
Etymology of DEVIOUS
The word "devious" has its origins in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "devius", which is a combination of "de" (meaning "away from") and "via" (meaning "road" or "way"). In Latin, "devius" referred to someone or something that strayed from the usual or direct path, a meaning that has been retained in its modern usage. Over time, "devius" evolved into "devious" in English and gained its current connotation of being deceitful, cunning, or deceitfully indirect. The word "devious" has been in use since the late 16th century.
Similar spelling words for DEVIOUS
- devise,
- debouch,
- defuse,
- debus,
- devisee,
- De Fusco,
- debusk,
- debiase,
- debussy,
- devours,
- devour.
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