— tortuously , adv. — tortuousness , n.
/tawr"chooh euhs/ , adj.
1. full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked: a tortuous path.
2. not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous: tortuous negotiations lasting for months.
3. deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.
[ 1350-1400; ME tortuosus , equiv. to tortu ( s ) a twisting ( tor ( quere ) to twist, bend + -tus suffix of v. action) + -osus -OUS ]
Syn. 1. bent, sinuous, serpentine. 2. evasive, roundabout, indirect.
Usage . See torturous .