circuitous Hear it!

circuitous Definition

cir·cui·tous (sər kyo̵̅o̅ət əs)

adjective

roundabout; indirect; devious

Etymology: ML circuitosus < L circuitus: see circuit

Related Forms:

circuitous Synonyms

circuitous

modif.

circuitous Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • route: They were out on their summer cruise, on a rather circuitous route to the Severn Estuary, which they intend to cruise.
  • journey: Whilst the Cowal peninsula is on the mainland, the short sea link from Gourock replaces a long and circuitous journey by land.
  • path: A new path extended off the circuitous path to East Drive, to give access to Stoke Park.
  • way: I came to love tennis in a circuitous way.
  • course: Rivers are often uneven, untidy and take circuitous courses.
  • fashion: The strands flow out, then in circuitous fashion go back into the shells again.

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: It was a shorter journey from here to the cathedral city than that afforded by the somewhat circuitous route of the 97.
  • rather: They were out on their summer cruise, on a rather circuitous route to the Severn Estuary, which they intend to cruise.
  • very: The people who had been slaves in Egypt have wandered for 40 years in a very circuitous route.
  • fairly: Took a fairly circuitous route, mind, doing business on the way.
  • extremely: Had it really traveled, by extremely circuitous route, from Suffolk to the south Pacific?
  • too: The consultants ' route is far too circuitous to do this.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Under scrutiny and with retribution a certainty, indirect expression became circuitous.