Link Centre Dictionary

circuitous

cir·cui·tous

UK/sɜːˈkjuːɪtəs/ US/sɚˈkjuːətəs/ uncommon

adjective

1.

marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct

  • “the explanation was circuitous and puzzling”
  • “a roundabout paragraph”
  • “hear in a roundabout way that her ex-husband was marrying her best friend”
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2.

deviating from a straight course

  • “a scenic but devious route”
  • “a long and circuitous journey by train and boat”
  • “a roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic”
Synonyms
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Origin

First attested in 1664. From Latin circuitōsus, from circuitus, from circumeō (“to go around”), from circum (“around”) + eō (“to go”). By surface analysis, circuit + -ous.

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.