Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adjective
- intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.
- stealthily treacherous or deceitful: an insidious enemy.
- operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect: an insidious disease.
adjective
- stealthy, subtle, cunning, or treacherous
- working in a subtle or apparently innocuous way, but nevertheless deadlyan insidious illness
1540s, from Middle French insidieux (15c.) or directly from Latin insidiosus “deceitful, cunning, artful,” from insidiae (plural) “plot, snare, ambush,” from insidere “sit on, occupy,” from in- “in” (see in- (2)) + sedere “to sit” (see sedentary). Related: Insidiously; insidiousness.
adj.
- Being a disease that progresses with few or no symptoms to indicate its gravity.