wile

[wahyl] /waɪl/
noun
1.
a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
2.
wiles, artful or beguiling behavior.
3.
deceitful cunning; trickery.
verb (used with object), wiled, wiling.
4.
to beguile, entice, or lure (usually followed by away, from, into, etc.):
The music wiled him from his study.
Verb phrases
5.
wile away, to spend or pass (time), especially in a leisurely or pleasurable fashion:
to wile away the long winter nights.
Origin
1125-75; (noun) Middle English; late Old English wil, perhaps < Old Norse vēl artifice, earlier *wihl-
Related forms
outwile, verb (used with object), outwiled, outwiling.
Can be confused
while, wile.
Synonyms
1, 2. deception, contrivance, maneuver. See trick. 3. chicanery, fraud.
Examples from the web for wile
  • The wile of deceased testified that her husband had been of intemperate habits for some years and had neglected his business.
  • The committee enables everyday people to do something worth wile and be rewarded for it.
  • So that it is impossible with that crafty wile and subtle train to turn anything to better.
  • Another benefit of not using voice commands is that you can scroll or zoom wile talking to other members of your squad.
British Dictionary definitions for wile

wile

/waɪl/
noun
1.
trickery, cunning, or craftiness
2.
(usually pl) an artful or seductive trick or ploy
verb
3.
(transitive) to lure, beguile, or entice
Word Origin
C12: from Old Norse vel craft; probably related to Old French wīle, Old English wīgle magic. See guile
Word Origin and History for wile
n.

mid-12c., wil "wile, trick," perhaps from Old North French *wile (Old French guile), or directly from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse vel "trick, craft, fraud," vela "defraud"). Perhaps ultimately related to Old English wicca "wizard" (see Wicca). Lighter sense of "amorous or playful trick" is from c.1600. Wily is attested from c.1300.