Main Entry: de·ceive

Pronunciation: \di-ˈsēv\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): de·ceived; de·ceiv·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French deceivre, from Latin decipere, from de- + capere to take — more at heave

Date: 13th century

transitive verb 1 archaic : ensnare
2 a obsolete : to be false to b archaic : to fail to fulfill
3 obsolete : cheat
4 : to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid
5 archaic : to while awayintransitive verb : to practice deceit; also : to give a false impression <appearances can deceive>

— de·ceiv·er noun

— de·ceiv·ing·ly \-ˈsē-viŋ-lē\ adverb

synonyms deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness <tried to deceive me about the cost>. mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional <I was misled by the confusing sign>. delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth <we were deluded into thinking we were safe>. beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving <was beguiled by false promises>.