Main Entry:

cap·tious

Pronunciation:

\ˈkap-shəs\

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