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.
The Latin roots of 'deceived' reveal deception as a kind of hunting – literally 'catching someone away' from truth, like a hunter ensnaring prey. This predatory metaphor embedded in the word suggests that humans have long understood deception as a fundamental survival strategy, whether for protection or advantage.
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