De*cep"tion (?), n. [F. déception, L. deceptio, fr. decipere, deceptum.
See Deceive.]
1. The act
of deceiving or misleading. South.
2. The state of
being deceived or misled.
There is one
thing relating either to the action
or enjoyments of man in which
he is not liable to deception.
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.
Hear it pronounced