Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a captious, critical, or faultfinding manner.
  • So as to catch or insnare; insnaringly; captivatingly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a captious manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a captious manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a captious, carping manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

captious +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • The other point in this paragraph is that I "captiously" called the content a learned article.

    Letters LaFarge, Henry A. 1964

  • For, say what you would, she was certainly acting very unfairly and captiously in all this.

    An American Tragedy 2004

  • Some state judges so captiously disputed the constitutionality of various military laws that the writ of habeas corpus had to be suspended.31

    LEE’S LIEUTENANTS DOUGLAS SOUTHALL FREEMAN 2001

  • Some state judges so captiously disputed the constitutionality of various military laws that the writ of habeas corpus had to be suspended.31

    LEE’S LIEUTENANTS DOUGLAS SOUTHALL FREEMAN 2001

  • Cassy shook her head captiously as she pulled out a half-dozen napkins from the holder and blotted up the spilled juice.

    Invasion Cook, Robin, 1940- 2000

  • Some captiously cavil, that more acuteness is now found in many other animals.

    Commentary on Genesis - Volume 1 1509-1564 1996

  • This question, Lord, are there few that be saved? when it was a received opinion amongst the Jews, 'that all Israel should have their part in the world to come,' makes it doubtful whether it was propounded captiously, or merely for satisfaction.

    From the Talmud and Hebraica 1602-1675 1979

  • Some state judges so captiously disputed the constitutionality of various military laws that the writ of habeas corpus had to be suspended.31

    Lee’s Lieutenants Douglas Southall Freeman 1971

  • Some state judges so captiously disputed the constitutionality of various military laws that the writ of habeas corpus had to be suspended.31

    Lee’s Lieutenants Douglas Southall Freeman 1971

  • Some state judges so captiously disputed the constitutionality of various military laws that the writ of habeas corpus had to be suspended.31

    Lee’s Lieutenants Douglas Southall Freeman 1971

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