GRE® vocabulary W6

[Remula]

Hi teachers

Could you look at GRE vocabulary W6? I think there is a mistake in question 9. The right answer is devious not obscure, isn't it?

Thanks for attention

[Beeesneees]

Hello Remula,

Do you mean this test?
http://www.english-test.net/gre/vocabulary/words/006/gre-test.php
The correct answer is 'obscure' just as it is indicated.

Take a look at this:
Obscure (adj.): synonyms: apart, isolated
remote and separate physically or socially; "an obscure village"
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=obscure
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Remula]

Hi Bee,

Yes, I mean this test. But the main meaning of obscure is unknown, unclear etc, whereas the main meaning of devious is separate and remote. So, devious is more apt than obscure or they may be considered synonims.

[Beeesneees]

Hi Remula,

Where did you find that definition? Devious does not mean obscure or remote.

The closest meaning that 'devious' has to 'remote' is 'misleading' or 'indirect':
Longer and less direct than the most straightforward way.
Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way.
They arrived at the town by a devious route.

The other meaning of devious is:
Showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals; misleading, insincere or misleading.
He's as devious as a politician needs to be.
They have devious ways of making money.
She used devious means to achieve success.

http://www.onelook.com/?w=devious&ls=a
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/devious

http://www.onelook.com/?w=obscure&ls=a
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Remula]

Oh, I found it in electron vocabulary ABYY Lingvo 12. Thanks for detailed explanation and useful links. I will use them.

Best regards

[MethoDs_MaN]

ya probably there is mistake