tortuous
[ tawr-choo-uhs ]
/ ˈtɔr tʃu əs /
adjective
full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked: a tortuous path.
not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous: tortuous negotiations lasting for months.
deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.
Origin of tortuous
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin
tortuōsus, equivalent to
tortu(s) a twisting (
tor(quēre) to twist, bend +
-tus suffix of v. action) +
-ōsus
-ous
SYNONYMS FOR tortuous
usage note for tortuous
See
torturous.
OTHER WORDS FROM tortuous
Words nearby tortuous
tortola,
tortoni,
tortricid,
tortuga,
tortuosity,
tortuous,
torture,
torture porn,
torturous,
torula,
torulopsosis
Example sentences from the Web for tortuously
British Dictionary definitions for tortuously
tortuous
/ (ˈtɔːtjʊəs) /
adjective
twisted or winding
a tortuous road
devious or cunning
a tortuous mind
intricate
Derived forms of tortuous
tortuously, adverb tortuousness, nounMedical definitions for tortuously
tortuous
[ tôr′chōō-əs ]
adj.
Having many turns; winding or twisting.