different between devious vs twisting

English

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."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?di?vi.?s/

  Rhymes: -i?vi?s

Adjective

devious (comparative more devious, superlative most devious)

1. cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank
2. roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route
   • 1801, Robert Southey, Thalaba the Destroyer:

     The wandering Arab never sets his tent
     Within her walls; the Shepherd eyes afar
     Her evil towers, and devious drives his flock.

   • 1839, Frederick Marryat, The Phantom Ship:

     Keeping close in to the shore, they discovered, after two hours run, a fresh stream which burst in a cascade from the mountains, and swept its devious course through the jungle, until it poured its tribute into the waters of the Strait.

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?tw?st??/

Verb

twisting

1. present participle of twist

Noun

twisting (countable and uncountable, plural twistings)

1. (countable) gerund of twist
   • 1984, Theodore R. Sizer, Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School

     She was oblivious of all around her, and her facial twistings and scrunchings were droll.

2. (uncountable) The disreputable practice of selling unnecessary insurance to a customer in order to earn commission.
   • 1985, The Federal Reporter (second series, volume 756, page 219):

     Twisting benefits an insurance agent while damaging the customer. The agent benefits because the commission earned on the sale of a new health insurance policy is substantially higher than that earned on the renewal of an existing policy.

Adjective

twisting

1. Having many twists

   The mountain road is even more twisting than the valley road.

Translations