guile

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English gile, from Anglo-Norman gile, from Old French guile (deception)[1], from Frankish *wigila (ruse). Cognate via Proto-Germanic with wile.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

guile (countable and uncountable; plural guiles)

  1. (uncountable) Astuteness often marked by a certain sense of cunning or artful deception.
    • 2011 November 11, Rory Houston, “Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland”, RTE Sport:
      Estonia were struggling to get to grips with the game while Ireland were showing a composure and guile that demonstrated their experience in play-off ties.
  2. deceptiveness, deceit, fraud, duplicity, dishonesty
    • 'The Bible - King James Version: John 1:47
      Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

guile (third-person singular simple present guiles, present participle guiling, simple past and past participle guiled)

  1. to deceive, to beguile

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] References

  1. ^ T.F. Hoad, Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, ISBN 978-0-19-283098-2; headword guile

[edit] Old French

[edit] Etymology

Frankish, see above

[edit] Noun

guile f. (oblique plural guiles, nominative singular guile, nominative plural guiles)

  1. trickery; deception

[edit] Descendants

[edit] References

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