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Webster 1913 Edition
Beguile
Be-guile′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Beguiled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beguiling
.] 1.
To delude by guile, artifice, or craft; to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure.
The serpent
beguiled
me, and I did eat. Gen. iii. 13.
2.
To elude, or evade by craft; to foil.
[Obs.]
When misery could
beguile
the tyrant’s rage. Shakespeare
3.
To cause the time of to pass without notice; to relieve the tedium or weariness of; to while away; to divert.
Ballads . . . to
beguile
his incessant wayfaring. W. Irving.
Syn. – To delude; deceive; cheat; insnare; mislead; amuse; divert; entertain.
Webster 1828 Edition
Beguile
BEGUI'LE
,Verb.
T.
The serpent beguiled me and I did eat Gen.3.
1.
To elude by craft. When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage.
2.
To elude any thing disagreeable by amusement, or other means; to pass pleasingly; to amuse; as, to beguile the tedious day with sleep.Definition 2024
beguile
beguile
English
Alternative forms
- begyle [from the Middle English period through the 16th century]
Verb
beguile (third-person singular simple present beguiles, present participle beguiling, simple past and past participle beguiled)
- (transitive) To deceive or delude (using guile).
- a. 1608, William Shakespeare, King Lear, II, II, 102.
- I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you, in a plain accent, was a plain knave.
- a. 1608, William Shakespeare, King Lear, II, II, 102.
- (transitive) To charm, delight or captivate.
- 1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston
- I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.
- 1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston
Related terms
Translations
to deceive or delude (using guile)
|
charm, delight
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