anfractuous

American  

[an-frak-choo-uhs] / ænˈfræk tʃu əs /

adjective

1. characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous.

   an anfractuous path.

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anfractuous British  

/ ænˈfræktʃʊəs /

adjective

1. characterized by twists and turns; convoluted

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Etymology

Origin of anfractuous

First recorded 1575–85; from French anfractueux, from Late Latin anfractuosus “roundabout, prolix,” from Latin anfractus “bend, curve” (equivalent to the prefix am-, an-, a rare variant of ambi- “both, around, about”) and a derivative of the verb frangere “to break, shatter, smash” + adjective suffix -osus; fraction ( def. ), break ( def. ), -ose ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

For throughout the labyrinth of all this anfractuous narrative there was indeed one guiding ray of light.

From Project Gutenberg

A state of being anfractuous, or full of windings and turnings; sinuosity.

From Project Gutenberg

Thin, anfractuous highways and dirt roads scarred the green and brown landscape, and as far as the eye could reach were to be seen farmhouses and barns and silos.

From Project Gutenberg

Paint me a cavernous waste shore Cast in the unstilted Cyclades, Paint me the bold anfractuous rocks Faced by the snarled and yelping seas.

From Project Gutenberg

Winding; full of windings and turnings; sinuous; tortuous; as, the anfractuous spires of a born.

From Project Gutenberg