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 verb1archaic : ensnare2 aobsolete : to be false to barchaic : to fail to fulfill3obsolete : cheat4: to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid5archaic : 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>.