CAPTIOUS


Meaning of CAPTIOUS in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈkap-shəs ]

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.