deceit Meaning, Definition & Usage

De*ceit" noun

Etymology

OF. deceit, desait, decept (cf. deceite, deoite), fr. L. deceptus deception, fr. decipere. See Deceive.

Definitions

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.

2. (Law) Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby effected, an action of deceit, as it called, lies for compensation. Syn. -- Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile; falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See Deception.