different between foxy vs devious

English

Etymology

From fox +? -y.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?f?ksi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f?ksi/
• Rhymes: -?ksi
• Hyphenation: fox?y

Adjective

foxy (comparative foxier, superlative foxiest)

1. Having the qualities of a fox.
2. Cunning, sly.
3. Attractive, sexy (of a woman).
4. (of a person, especially a woman) Reddish-brown haired.
5. (art) Using too much of the reddish-brown colours.
   • 1844, Benjamin Robert Haydon, Lectures on Painting and Design:

     His eye for colour was so exquisite that I do not think there is a single instance in all his works of a heated tint which is called foxy. This cannot be said of Rubens or Rembrandt […]

   • 1870, Frederick Peter Seguier, A Critical and Commercial Dictionary of the Works of Painters:

     Although the skies of Brydael's pictures are often broken with rather heavy masses of orange and yellow clouds, yet, taking him altogether, he was not a 'foxy' painter; on the contrary, there is a silvery coolness about some of his pictures which pleases us.

6. (of wine) Having an animal-like odour.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:sexy

Translations

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