deceit

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. [ 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 ]