beguile

American  

[bih-gahyl] / bɪˈgaɪl /

verb (used with object)

beguiled, beguiling

1. to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude.

   Synonyms:

   cheat, deceive

2. to take away from by cheating or deceiving (usually followed byof ).

   to be beguiled of money.

3. to charm or divert.

   a multitude of attractions to beguile the tourist.

   Synonyms:

   entertain, amuse

4. to pass (time) pleasantly.

   beguiling the long afternoon with a good book.

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beguile British  

/ bɪˈɡaɪl /

verb

1. to charm; fascinate

2. to delude; influence by slyness

3. to deprive (someone) of something by trickery; cheat (someone) of

4. to pass pleasantly; while away

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Usage

What does beguile mean? Beguile means to mislead through trickery or flattery, or to deceive someone in order to swindle them out of something. Beguile can also mean to charm in a good way—you can be beguiled by an interesting person or a book that really captures your imagination, for example. Someone or something that’s charming in such a way can be described as beguiling. All senses of the word can imply a sense of magic or enchantment. There are several similar verbs that often have magical feel, such as charm, enchant, bewitch, enrapture, and enthrall. Example: He beguiled his victims with a charm that left them unable to see the deception that was taking place.

Other Word Forms

• beguilement
  noun
• beguiler
  noun
• unbeguiled
  adjective
• unbeguiling
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of beguile

First recorded in 1175–1225, beguile is from the Middle English word bigilen. See be-, guile

Explanation

To beguile is to entertain and convince by flattery. Someone who beguiles is tricky and often charming, like when a smooth-talking friend tries to beguile you into giving them your allowance. The word beguile is from Middle English, and while guile involves deceit, to beguile means to spend time pleasantly, even if it involves trickery. If someone beguiles you for an afternoon, you were amused, entertained, or otherwise pleased. The word can also have a darker tone, as when the person who beguiled you for the afternoon was actually trying to steal your car. Con artists and cat videos tend to beguile people.

Example Sentences

Beguile, be-gīl′, v.t. to cheat or deceive: to divert attention from anything tedious or painful: to divert or amuse: to wile any one into some course.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

I wished that I could be the maid To serve your meal or crumb your cloth, or Beguile some hazard to my aid To know your verdict on that author!

From Mince Pie by Morley, Christopher

And maiden Pallas … did some strange god's face Beguile her, that she craved for loveliness, Who chose from God one virgin gift above All gifts, and fleeth from the lips of love?

From The Trojan women of Euripides by Euripides

Beguile the mind Of Philoctetes by thy wily words.

From Specimens of Greek Tragedy — Aeschylus and Sophocles by Smith, Goldwin

May all that Love can give Beguile you long to live— Our Queen of Hearts.

From Julia Ward Howe 1819-1910 by Elliott, Maud Howe

Related Words

• amuse
• engross
• entertain
• entice
• rizz up
• seduce
• tickle