Deceit Meaning
/dɪˈsiːt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn act or practice intended to deceive; a trick.
nounAn act of deceiving someone.
Sentence Examples
She is incapable of deceit.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
He acquired a great fortune by using deceit and treachery.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His constant ____ caused friends to slowly lose all trust.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She is incapable of ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English deceyte, from Old French deceite, deçoite, from decevoir (“to deceive”), from Latin dēcipere (“to cheat, mislead”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Upon his return he killed Eriphyle for her vanity and deceit of him and his father."
— 1998, Mike Dixon-Kennedy, Encyclopedia of Greco-Roman Mythology, page 125:
"[T]he tvvo commended rules by him [Aristotle] ſet down, vvhereby the axioms of Sciences are precepted to be made convertible, and vvhich the latter men have not vvithout elegancy ſurnamed; the one the rule of truth, becauſe it preventeth deceipt; the other the rule of prudence, becauſe it freeth election, are the ſame thing in ſpeculation and affirmation, vvhich vve novv obſerve."
— 1603 (date written), [Francis] Bacon, “Valerius Terminus: Of the Interpretation of Nature; with the Annotations of Hermes Stella. Chapter XI. The Chapter Immediately Following the Inventary; Being the 11th in Order, a Part thereof.”, in Robert Stephens, compiler, edited by [John Lockyer], Letters and Remains of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, published 1734, →OCLC, page 411:
"His mouth is full of curſing, and deceit, and fraud : vnder his tongue is miſchiefe and vanitie."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 10:7:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His constant ____ caused friends to slowly lose all trust.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She is incapable of ____.