ETYM Old Fren. deceit, desçait, decept (cf. deceite, deçoite), from Latin deceptus deception, from decipere. Related to Deceive.
1. An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud.
2. Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby effected, an action of deceit; SYN. Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity.