Deludere

Deludere is a Latin verb meaning to deceive, mislead, beguile, or to disappoint by feigning. It can refer to tricks played on a person or to more subtle rhetorical manipulation that leads someone to false beliefs or expectations. In Latin, it is transitive and typically takes an accusative object for the deceived person or thing, and may be complemented by phrases indicating the manner or object of deception, such as spe (hope) or mentem (mind).

The verb belongs to the third conjugation. Principal parts are deludo, deludere, delusi, delusum. In usage, Latin writers employ it in a wide range of contexts—from rhetorical tricks in politics to practical deception in daily life.

Example: "Rhetor populum deludit," meaning "The orator deceives the people." In English, deludere gives rise to the verb delude and the related nouns delusion and delusional, with the general sense of leading someone astray or causing false belief.

Etymology: deludere is formed from de- plus ludere, "to play"; the figurative sense is to cause someone to be misled by misrepresentation or feigning. The word has influenced English through the verb delude and the noun delusion; other derivatives include delusive and deluder.