De*ceit" (?), n. [OF. deceit,
desçait, decept (cf. deceite,
deçoite), 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.
Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and
falsifying the balances by deceit.
Amos viii.
5.
Friendly to man, far from deceit or
guile.
Milton.
Yet still we hug the dear deceit.
N. Cotton.
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.