Deceite

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Dishonest conduct intended to mislead someone into believing something false ; a cunning trick or falsehood used to gain an unfair advantage
2. The practice of misleading people through falsehood or concealment ; a sly scheme or untruth designed to fool someone
3. Deliberate misrepresentation meant to cheat or trick others ; a fraudulent stratagem or lie told to take advantage of someone

Etymology: Latin "decipere" combined "de-" with "capere," meaning "to take" or "catch." To deceive someone was, at root, to catch them, the way a hunter catches game in a snare. English received the noun through Old French, which formed "deceite" from the Latin past participle "decepta." This is why the spelling carries French traces, with its "-ei-" and final "-e." The Middle English form shown here is an older spelling of the same noun that modern English now writes as "deceit."