delude
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to deceive the mind or judgment of; mislead; beguile
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rare to frustrate (hopes, expectations, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have deludedperfect
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has deludedperfect 3rd person singular
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are deludingprogressive
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is deludingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been deludingperfect progressive
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am deludingprogressive 1st person singular
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deludessingular 3rd person
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has been deludingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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deludingparticiple
Past
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had deludedperfect
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had been deludingperfect progressive
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were deludingprogressive plural
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was deludingprogressive singular
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deludedsimple
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deludedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of delude
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English deluden, from Latin dēlūdere “to play false,” equivalent to dē- de- + lūdere “to play”
Explanation
To delude is to trick or fool, often in relation to yourself. If you delude yourself into thinking your mom's chocolate cake is low in fat, you'll be disappointed to find out it's made with two sticks of butter! If you delude someone into thinking something, you are making a fool of them, or making them foolish. The word shares a root with ludicrous which means completely ridiculous. The thing that you foolishly believe is a delusion. Someone with delusions of grandeur has deluded themselves into thinking they are very, very special.
Vocabulary lists containing delude
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Othello
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An' aft your moss-traversing spunkies Decoy the wight that late and drunk is; The bleezin', curst, mischievous monkeys Delude his eyes, Till in some miry slough he sunk is, Ne'er mair to rise.
From The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by Grant, James, archaeologist
An' aft your moss-traversing spunkies bog-, goblins Decoy the wight that late an' drunk is: The bleezin, curst, mischievous monkies Delude his eyes, Till in some miry slough he sunk is, Ne'er mair to rise.
From Robert Burns How To Know Him by Neilson, William Allan
Up and down, as if wringing from speed Sights that made the unsighted appear, Delude and dissolve, on it scoured.
From Poems — Volume 2 by Meredith, George
Nor shall the desperate act of Leidenberch Delude what we determind.
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)
For Heavens sake Delude mine Eyes no longer! how came ye off?
From Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (2 of 10) - the Humourous Lieutenant by Beaumont, Francis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
