Past tense of 'deceive', meaning to have caused someone to believe something untrue through lies or misleading behavior. Implies intentional misdirection or fraud.
From Latin 'decipere', combining 'de-' (away from) and 'capere' (to take or catch), literally meaning 'to ensnare' or 'catch away from truth'. The word entered Middle English through Old French 'decevoir' in the 13th century.
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