to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude:
They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter.
2.
to be unfaithful to (one's spouse or lover).
3.
Archaic. to while away (time).
verb (used without object), deceived, deceiving.
4.
to mislead or falsely persuade others; practice deceit:
an engaging manner that easily deceives.
Origin
1250-1300;Middle Englishdeceiven < Old Frenchdeceivre < Latindēcipere, literally, to ensnare, equivalent to dē-de- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take
C13: from Old French deceivre, from Latin dēcipere to ensnare, cheat, from capere to take
Word Origin and History for deceive
v.
c.1300, from Old French decevoir (12c., Modern French décevoir) "to deceive," from Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de- "from" or pejorative + capere "to take" (see capable). Related: Deceived; deceiver; deceiving.