different between devious vs zigzag

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

Etymology

Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /?z??.zæ?/

Noun

zigzag (plural zigzags)

1. a line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions
2. one of such sharp turns

Translations

Adjective

zigzag (not comparable)

1. Moving in, or having a zigzag.
   • 1855, Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South, London: Chapman & Hall, Volume 2, Chapter 6, pp. 78-79,^[1]

     His thoughts were fixed on one subject, and it was an effort to him to follow the zigzag remarks of his children—an effort which he did not make.

Translations

Verb

zigzag (third-person singular simple present zigzags, present participle zigzagging, simple past and past participle zigzagged)

1. To move or to twist in a zigzag manner.
   • 2002, Malcolm Yorke, Mervyn Peake: My Eyes Mint Gold: A Life, page 298:

     If the first two novels created a new genre — Peakean fantasy — then this third volume zigzags between several: the Bildungsroman, science fiction, social satire, morality tale and dystopian prophecy.

   Synonym: zig and zag

Translations

Adverb

zigzag (comparative more zigzag, superlative most zigzag)

1. in a zigzag manner or pattern

Translations

References

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French zigzag.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?z?x.z?x/
• Hyphenation: zig?zag

Noun

zigzag m (plural zigzags, diminutive zigzagje n)

1. zigzag (line in a sawtooth pattern)

Derived terms

• zigzaggen

French

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /zi?.za?/

Noun

zigzag m (plural zigzags)

1. zigzag

Romanian

Etymology

From French zigzag.

Noun

zigzag n (plural zigzaguri)

1. zigzag

Declension

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from French zigzag.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /?i???a?/, [?i????a??]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America) /si??sa?/, [si???sa??]

Noun

zigzag m (plural zigzags or zigzagues)

1. zigzag

Derived terms

• zigzagueo m
• zigzaguear
• zigzagueante

References

“zigzag” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.