Deceived
/dɪˈsiːvd/
Definitions
To cause someone to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some advantage.
/dɪˈsiːvd/
To cause someone to believe something that is not true.
The magician deceived the audience with a clever illusion.
💡 Simply: Imagine you tell your friend a secret about a surprise party, but you make it seem like you hate parties. You're deceiving them because you want to keep the surprise!
👶 For kids: To trick someone into believing something that isn't real.
More Examples
She deceived her parents by pretending to study when she was actually on the phone.
The con artist deceived many people out of their money.
How It's Used
"He deceived his friends about his true intentions."
"The company was accused of deceiving its investors."
Idioms & expressions
deceive oneself
To refuse to admit the truth, especially about one's own situation or feelings.
"He's deceiving himself if he thinks he's going to win the lottery."
From Middle English *deceiven*, from Old French *deceveir* (to deceive, disappoint), from Vulgar Latin *decipere*, from Latin *decipere* (to catch, ensnare), from *de-* (down, away) + *capere* (to take, seize).
Used extensively in literature and legal contexts, tracing back to ancient usage where trickery or deception played a significant role in narratives and lawmaking.
Memory tip
Think of 'deceive' like wearing a mask – hiding the truth to trick someone.