Definition of inveigle
inveiglingplay \in-ˈvā-g(ə-)liŋ sometimes -ˈvē-\
inveiglementplay \in-ˈvā-gəl-mənt sometimes -ˈvē-\ noun
inveiglerplay \in-ˈvā-g(ə-)lər sometimes -ˈvē-\ noun
inveigle was our Word of the Day on 03/17/2015. Hear the podcast!
Examples of inveigle in a sentence
She inveigled him to write the letter.
We inveigled the information from him.
Did You Know?
Inveigle, a word that dates from the 16th century, refers to the act of using clever talk, trickery, or flattery to either persuade somebody to do something or to obtain something through a similar method. What could such a word possibly have to do with blindness? Inveigle came to English from the Anglo-French verb enveegler, which means "to blind or hoodwink someone," from the adjective enveugle, meaning "blind." Enveugle derives from the Medieval Latin ab oculis, a phrase which literally translates to "lacking eyes." You might say that a person who is inveigled to do or give up something is too "blinded" by someone's words to know that he or she is being tricked.
Origin and Etymology of inveigle
Anglo-French enveegler, aveogler, avogler to blind, hoodwink, from avogle, enveugle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes
First Known Use: 1539
Synonym Discussion of inveigle
INVEIGLE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of inveigle for English Language Learners
: to persuade (someone) to do something in a clever or deceptive way
: to get (something) in a clever or deceptive way
Legal Definition of inveigle
: to lure by false representations or other deceit whoever unlawfully…inveigles, decoys, kidnaps, abducts, or carries away and holds for ransom or reward or otherwise any person…shall be punished by imprisonment — U.S. Code
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