[ˈdiːvɪəs], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve goals
(e.g: he's as devious as a politician needs to be)

- (of a route or journey) longer and less direct than the most straightforward way
(e.g: they arrived at the town by a devious route)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century: from Latin devius (from de- ‘away from’ + via ‘way’) + -ous. The original sense was ‘remote’; the later sense ‘departing from the direct route’ gave rise to the figurative sense ‘deviating from the straight way’ and hence ‘skilled in underhand tactics’