adj.
Pronunciation: ' kap-sh ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English capcious, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French captieux, from Latin captiosus, from captio deception, verbal quibble, from capere to take ― more at HEAVE
Date: 14th century
1 : marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections < captious critics>
2 : calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument <a captious question>
synonyms see CRITICAL
– cap · tious · ly adverb
– cap · tious · ness noun