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deceit

Deceit De*ceit", n. [OF. deceit, des[,c]ait, decept (cf. deceite, de[,c]oite), fr. L. deceptus deception, fr. decipere. See 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. [1913 Webster]

Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit. --Amos viii. 5. [1913 Webster]

Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Yet still we hug the dear deceit. --N. Cotton. [1913 Webster]

2. (Law) Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby effected, an action of deceit, as it called, lies for compensation.

Syn: Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile; falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See Deception. [1913 Webster]