Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

guile

 - 3 dictionary results

guile

  [gahyl]
Use guile in a Sentence
–noun
insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < OF < Gmc; akin to wile

Synonyms:
trickery, fraud, craft. See deceit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To guile
guile   (gīl)   
n.  

  1. Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit.

  2. Obsolete A trick or stratagem.

tr.v.   guiled, guil·ing, guiles Archaic
To beguile; deceive.

[Middle English, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wigle, divination, sorcery.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

guile 
c.1150, from O.Fr. guile, from Frank. *wigila "trick, ruse" (cf. O.Fris. wigila "sorcery, witchcraft," and O.E. wil "trick," see wile).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see guile on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way