a. [ad. late L. circuitōs-us abounding in roundabout courses, f. circuitus CIRCUIT: see -OUS.] Of the nature of a circuit, roundabout, indirect.

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1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., 109. Any medium direct or circuitous.

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1790.  Paley, Horæ Paul., I. 4. Coincidences … minute, circuitous, or oblique.

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1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 439. By this kind of circuitous commerce they subsisted and grew rich.

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1800.  Colquhoun, Comm. Thames, xi. 303. This ancient Court of Record is too circuitous in its procedure.

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1845.  Whately, Logic, in Encycl. Metr., 219/1. An artificial and circuitous way of speaking.

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1868.  Q. Victoria, Journ. Life Highlands, 240. We had then to take a somewhat circuitous route in order to avoid some bogs.

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  † 2.  ? Circus-like. Obs. rare.

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1807.  G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. I. ii. 92. There are other circuitous erections of stone.

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