Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Deceit
De-ceit′
,Noun.
[OF.
deceit
, desçait
, decept
(cf. deceite
, deçoite
), fr. L. deceptus
deception, fr. decipere
. See Deceive
.] 1.
An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud.
Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by
deceit
. Amos viii. 5.
Friendly to man, far from
deceit
or guile. Milton.
Yet still we hug the dear
deceit
. N. Cotton.
Syn. – Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile; falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See
Deception
.