CAPTIOUS, adjective 1. Disposed to find fault, or raise objections; apt to cavil, as in popular language, it is said, apt to catch at; as a captious man. 2. Fitted to catch or ensnare; insidious; as a captious question. 3. Proceeding from a caviling disposition; as a captious objection or criticism.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI