Dictionary > Insidious

Insidious

Insidious
1. Lying in wait; watching an opportunity to insnare or entrap; deceitful; sly; treacherous; said of persons; as, the insidious foe. The insidious witch.
2. Intended to entrap; characterised by treachery and deceit; as, insidious arts. ”The insidious whisper of the bad angel.
(Science: medicine)” (Hawthorne) insidious disease, a disease existing, without marked symptoms, but ready to become active upon some slight occasion; a disease not appearing to be as bad as it really is.
Synonym: Crafty, wily, artful, sly, designing, guileful, circumventive, treacherous, deceitful, deceptive.
insidiously, Insid”iousness.
Origin: L. Insidiosus, fr. Insidiae an ambush, fr. Insidere to sit in; pref. In- – sedere to sit: cf. F. Insidieux. See Sit.

Last updated on February 26th, 2021

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