Cozener

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌzənə/

Definitions

1. One who deceives or defrauds another through cunning tricks or dishonest schemes
2. A deceitful individual who uses cunning strategies to cheat others for their possessions or financial gain
3. An individual who engages in fraudulent deception by employing clever tricks or dishonest tactics to mislead others for personal benefit

Etymology: "Cozener" is a plain agent noun: it names someone who cozens, that is, who cheats or defrauds. The verb "cozen" is the older base, and the suffix "-er" simply marks the person doing the action, so a cozener is one who cozens others. The word's sense is therefore built directly into its form rather than borrowed from elsewhere. Its interest lies mostly in the verb it grows from. "Cozen" meant to cheat or defraud, and a cozener is the person who does so, usually by deceit or trickery rather than open force. The pairing of a verb with the agent suffix is a common English pattern, which is why the noun is easy to read even when it is unfamiliar.

Synonyms: swindler, cheat, fraudster, trickster, deceiver

Antonyms: honest person, truth-teller