Langimage
English

tricky

|trick/y|

B2

/ˈtrɪki/

difficult or deceptive

Etymology
Etymology Information

'tricky' originates from the word 'trick,' which comes from Old French 'trique,' meaning 'deceit or trickery.'

Historical Evolution

'trique' transformed into the Middle English word 'trik,' and eventually became the modern English word 'trick,' from which 'tricky' is derived.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'deceitful or cunning,' but over time it evolved to also mean 'difficult to handle.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

difficult to deal with or handle.

The puzzle was quite tricky to solve.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adjective 2

deceptive or likely to deceive.

The magician's tricks were very tricky.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39