Part 71

South.

3. That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud.

There was of course room for vast deception.

Motley.

Syn. -- Deception, Deceit, Fraud, Imposition. Deception usually refers to the act, and deceit to the habit of the mind; hence we speak of a person as skilled in deception and addicted to deceit. The practice of deceit springs altogether from design, and that of the worst kind; but a deception does not always imply aim and intention. It may be undesigned or accidental. An imposition is an act of deception practiced upon some one to his annoyance or injury; a fraud implies the use of stratagem, with a view to some unlawful gain or advantage.

De*cep"tious (?), a. [LL. deceptiosus.] Tending deceive; delusive. [R.]

As if those organs had deceptious functions.

Shak.

De*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. déceptif. See Deceive.] Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress with false opinions; as, a deceptive countenance or appearance.

Language altogether deceptive, and hiding the deeper reality from our eyes.

Trench.

Deceptive cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the subdominant, or in some foreign key, postponing the final close.

De*cep"tive*ly, adv. In a manner to deceive.

De*cep"tive*ness, n. The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or aptness to deceive.

De`cep*tiv"i*ty (?), n. Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.] Carlyle.

De*cep"to*ry (?), a. [L. deceptorius, from decipere.] Deceptive. [R.]

De*cern" (?), v. t. [L. decernere. See Decree.] 1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.

2. (Scots Law) To decree; to adjudge.

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De*cern"i*ture (?; 135), n. (Scots Law) A decree or sentence of a court. Stormonth.

De*cerp" (?), v. t. [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.] To pluck off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]

De*cerpt" (?), a. [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.] Plucked off or away. [Obs.]

De*cerp"ti*ble (?), a. That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*cerp"tion (?), n. 1. The act of plucking off; a cropping.

2. That which is plucked off or rent away; a fragment; a piece. Glanvill.

De`cer*ta"tion (?), n. [L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum; de- + certare to contend.] Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.] Arnway.

De*ces"sion (?), n. [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. See Decease, n.] Departure; decrease; -- opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

De*charm" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. décharmer. See Charm.] To free from a charm; to disenchant.