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Deceiving

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅ceive

  [di-seev] verb, -ceived, -ceiv⋅ing.
Use Deceiving in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude: They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter.
2. to be unfaithful to (one's spouse or lover).
3. Archaic. to while away (time).
–verb (used without object)
4. to mislead or falsely persuade others; practice deceit: an engaging manner that easily deceives.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME deceiven < OF deceivre < L dēcipere, lit., to ensnare, equiv. to dē- de- + -cipere, comb. form of capere to take

Related forms:
de⋅ceiv⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, de⋅ceiv⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
de⋅ceiv⋅a⋅bly, adverb
de⋅ceiv⋅er, noun
de⋅ceiv⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. cozen, dupe, fool, gull, hoodwink, trick, defraud, outwit, entrap, ensnare, betray. See cheat.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Deceiving
de·ceive   (dĭ-sēv')   
v.   de·ceived, de·ceiv·ing, de·ceives

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to believe what is not true; mislead.

  2. Archaic To catch by guile; ensnare.

v.   intr.

  1. To practice deceit.

  2. To give a false impression: appearances can deceive.


[Middle English deceiven, from Old French deceveir, from Vulgar Latin *dēcipēre, from Latin dēcipere, to ensnare, deceive : dē-, de- + capere, to seize; see kap- in Indo-European roots.]
de·ceiv'a·ble adj., de·ceiv'er n., de·ceiv'ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to lead another into error, danger, or a disadvantageous position by underhand means. Deceive involves the deliberate misrepresentation of the truth: "We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know, because they have never deceived us" (Samuel Johnson).
Betray implies treachery: "When you betray somebody else, you also betray yourself" (Isaac Bashevis Singer).
Mislead means to lead in the wrong direction or into error of thought or action: "My manhood, long misled by wandering fires,/Followed false lights" (John Dryden).
Beguile suggests deceiving by means of charm or allure: They beguiled unwary investors with tales of overnight fortunes.
To delude is to mislead the mind or judgment. The government deluded the public about the dangers of low-level radiation.
Dupe implies playing upon another's susceptibilities or naiveté: The shoppers were duped by false advertising.
Hoodwink refers to deluding by trickery: It is difficult to hoodwink a smart lawyer.
Bamboozle means to delude by the use of such tactics as hoaxing or artful persuasion: "Perhaps if I wanted to be understood or to understand I would bamboozle myself into belief, but I am a reporter" (Graham Greene).
Double-cross implies the betrayal of a confidence or the willful breaking of a pledge: The thief double-crossed his accomplice.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

deceive 
c.1300, from O.Fr. deceveir, from L. decipere "to ensnare, take in," from de- "from" or pejorative + capere "to take" (see capable).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·ceive
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: de·ceived; de·ceiv·ing
transitive verb : to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid intransitive verb : to practice deceit —compare DEFRAUD, MISLEAD
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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