anfractuous

  • 1Anfractuous — An*frac tu*ous, a. [L. anfractuosus, fr. anfractus a turning, a winding, fr. the unused anfringere to wind, bend; an , for amb + fractus, p. p. of frangere to break: cf. F. anfractueux.] Winding; full of windings and turnings; sinuous; tortuous;… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2anfractuous — (adj.) full of windings and turnings, 1620s, from L. anfractuous, from anfractus a winding, a turning, bending round, from am(bi) around (see AMBI (Cf. ambi )) + fractus, pp. of frangere to break (see FRACTION (Cf. fraction)). Related …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3anfractuous — index circuitous, sinuous, tortuous (bending) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4anfractuous — [an frak′cho͞o əs] adj. [LL(Ec) anfractuosus < L anfractus, pp. of anfringere < an (for ambi ), around + frangere, BREAK] full of twists, turns, and windings; roundabout; tortuous …

    English World dictionary

  • 5anfractuous — /an frak chooh euhs/, adj. characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous: an anfractuous path. [1615 25; back formation from ANFRACTUOSITY] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 6anfractuous — an•frac•tu•ous [[t]ænˈfræk tʃu əs[/t]] adj. characterized by windings and turnings: an anfractuous path[/ex] • Etymology: 1615–25; < LL anfrāctuōsus circuitous =anfractūs a bend + ōsus ose …

    From formal English to slang

  • 7anfractuous — /ænˈfræktʃuəs/ (say an frakchoohuhs) adjective characterised by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous: an anfractuous path. Also, anfractuose /ænˈfræktʃuˌoʊs/ (say an frakchooh.ohs). {Latin anfractuōsus winding} …

  • 8anfractuous — adjective full of twists and turns anfractuous cliffs • Similar to: ↑crooked …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9anfractuous — adjective Etymology: French anfractueux, from Late Latin anfractuosus, from Latin anfractus coil, bend, from an (from ambi around) + fractus, from frangere to break more at ambi , break Date: 1619 full of windings and intricate turnings ;… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10anfractuous — adjective /ænˈfɹæktjʊəs/ a) sinuous, twisty, winding. b) craggy, rugged, coarse, rough, uneven …

    Wiktionary