# deceive

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈsiːv/ · frequency rank #17,585

## Definitions
1. To trick or mislead.

## Etymology
From Middle English deceyven, from Anglo-Norman deceivre, from Latin dēcipiō (“to deceive; beguile; entrap”), from dē- (“from”) + capiō (“to seize”); see captive. Compare conceive, perceive, receive. Displaced native Old English beswīcan.

## Easily confused with
- **decide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-decide)
- **derive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-derive)
- **deserve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-deserve)
- **decline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-decline)
- **deprive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-deprive)
- **decisive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-decisive)
- **deceived** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-deceived)
- **deceptive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceive-vs-deceptive)
- **deceit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceit-vs-deceive)

## Common misspellings (9)
`dceeive`, `ddeceive`, `decceive`, `deceiev`, `deceivve`, `decevie`, `decieve`, `deecive`, `edceive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/deceive