DEVIOUS

devious, circuitous, roundabout

(adjective) 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”

devious, oblique

(adjective) indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading; “used devious means to achieve success”; “gave oblique answers to direct questions”; “oblique political maneuvers”

devious, shifty

(adjective) characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive; “a devious character”; “shifty eyes”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius "out of the way, remote, off the main road," from de via; from de "off" (see de-) + via "way, road" (see via). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related: Deviously; deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."

Adjective

devious (comparative more devious, superlative most devious)

cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank

roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route

Source: Wiktionary

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De"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. devius; de + via way. See Viaduct.]

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

2. Going out of the right or common course; going astray; erring; wandering; as, a devious step.

Syn.

– Wandering; roving; rambling; vagrant.

– De"vi*ous*ly, adv.

– De"vi*ous*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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