Deceive Meaning
/dɪˈsiːv/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo trick or mislead.
Sentence Examples
Nothing would tempt me to deceive him.
It is mean of him to deceive an elderly lady.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
A magician uses sleight of hand to ____ the audience effectively.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Nothing would tempt me to ____ him.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English deceyven, from Anglo-Norman deceivre, from Latin dēcipiō (“to deceive; beguile; entrap”), from dē- (“from”) + capiō (“to seize”); see captive. Compare conceive, perceive, receive. Displaced native Old English beswīcan.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I know—for Death, who comes for me
From regions of the blest afar,
Where there is nothing to deceive,
Hath left his iron gate ajar, […]"
— 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
"Hungry for fame and the approval of rare-animal collector Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), Darwin deceives the Captain and his crew into believing they can get enough booty to win the pirate competition by entering Polly in a science fair. So the pirates journey to London in cheerful, blinkered defiance of the Queen, a hotheaded schemer whose royal crest reads simply “I hate pirates.”"
— 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A magician uses sleight of hand to ____ the audience effectively.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Nothing would tempt me to ____ him.