Circuitous
/sɚˈkjuːɪtəs/noun
Following a long, indirect, or roundabout route rather than a direct one.
Did you know?Circuitous comes from Latin circuitus, meaning “a going around,” formed from circum (“around”) and ire (“to go”); its history is linguistic rather than occult.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
circum
“Around; on all sides”
Classical Latin
Latin
ire
“To go”
Classical Latin
Latin
circuire
“To go around or make a circuit”
Late Latin
Latin
circuitus
“A going around; a circuit or course”
16th Century
English
circuitous
“Roundabout or indirect”
Modern English
English
circuitous
“Following a long, indirect route or line of thought”
Explore more surprising origins