beguile

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈɡaɪl/ UK /bɪˈɡaɪl/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to charm or deceive, often in a deceptive way

The con man beguiled investors with promises of easy riches.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to charm or deceive, often... charm deceive enchant captivate delude entice bewitch

Opposites

disenchant repel undeceive

Word family

Forms beguiledbeguiles

Derived forms beguiledbeguilingbeguilementbeguiler

Related forms guile

Etymology

From the intensive prefix be- + the now-rare verb guile ('to deceive'). Guile comes from Old French guile ('deceit, cunning'), probably of Germanic origin, related to wile.

be- Old English guile Old French

View etymology graph ->

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Actions & Processes

# beguile

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** bɪˈɡaɪl
**IPA (UK):** bɪˈɡaɪl

## Meanings
1. to charm or deceive, often in a deceptive way

## Examples
- The con man beguiled investors with promises of easy riches.

## Synonyms
- charm
- deceive
- enchant
- captivate
- delude
- entice
- bewitch

## Antonyms
- disenchant
- repel
- undeceive

## Derived Forms
- beguiled
- beguiling
- beguilement
- beguiler

## Related Forms
- guile

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: be-
- Root: guile

## Etymology
From the intensive prefix be- + the now-rare verb guile ('to deceive'). Guile comes from Old French guile ('deceit, cunning'), probably of Germanic origin, related to wile.

## AI Etymology
Beguile is a verb meaning "to charm or deceive, often in a deceptive way". Historically, it is from the intensive prefix be- + the now-rare verb guile ('to deceive'). Guile comes from Old French guile ('deceit, cunning'), probably of Germanic origin, related to wile. The visible construction is part of the etymology: beguile is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English be- with Old French guile. Close English family members include beguiled, beguiling, beguilement, beguiler, and guile.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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beguile

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