beguile
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude.
-
to take away from by cheating or deceiving (usually followed byof ).
to be beguiled of money.
-
to charm or divert.
a multitude of attractions to beguile the tourist.
-
to pass (time) pleasantly.
beguiling the long afternoon with a good book.
verb
-
to charm; fascinate
-
to delude; influence by slyness
-
to deprive (someone) of something by trickery; cheat (someone) of
-
to pass pleasantly; while away
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
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has beguiledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have beguiledperfect
-
is beguilingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are beguilingprogressive
-
am beguilingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been beguilingperfect progressive
-
has been beguilingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
beguilessingular 3rd person
-
beguilingparticiple
Past
-
had beguiledperfect
-
were beguilingprogressive plural
-
was beguilingprogressive singular
-
had been beguilingperfect progressive
-
beguiledsimple
-
beguiledparticiple
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing beguile
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Beguile the lagging hours of weariness With strain which hath strange power To make me love thee as I love life less!
From Poems by Eddy, Mary Baker
All merrily the little dears Throw snowballs in each other's ears; And thus with pretty playful ways Beguile the white and wintry days.
From Children of Our Town by Mars, E. (Ethel)
The nights are full of music, Melodious Teuton troops Beguile us, calmly smoking, On balconies and stoops.
From Point Lace and Diamonds by Day, Francis
For, if the touch of sweet concordant strings Could force attendance in the ears of hell, How much more shall the strains of poets' wit Beguile and ravish soft and humane minds?
From King Edward III by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)
Or whether she may not yet return, today, And with a heart that is a nymph's, a soul That is a nun's, Beguile me back to doting?
From The Immortal Lure by Rice, Cale Young
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.
