Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To make a fool of.
  • transitive verb To hoodwink; deceive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make a fool of; delude; dupe.
  • To treat as a fool; call (a person) “fool.”

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive.
  • transitive verb To cause to behave like a fool; to make foolish.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb archaic To fool, to trick or deceive someone

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb fool or hoax
  • verb make a fool or dupe of

Etymologies

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Examples

  • You know how he tried to befool the mob, first by mocking Jesus as a harmless fool; and second by offering to release him according to the custom of releasing one prisoner at time of the Passover.

    Chapter 17 2010

  • “The then NDA Government in which NC was also a part had thrown the autonomy resolution the dustbin but despite humiliation, the party (NC) remained in the coalition just to enjoy the power” she said and cautioned the people that NC leaders were again raising the bogey of autonomy to befool the common masses.

    National Confrence always bartered J&K State���s interests for the lust of power: Mehbooba 2009

  • “We do not befool people in the name of religion or region, but in our eyes every citizen is equal and every area is equally important in the development process”, he asserted.

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) survives on falsehood: NC 2009

  • While referring to the hollow slogans of certain parties, Sagar said that they are trying to befool the people as situation has shown considerable improvement and normalcy has been restored.

    J&K Minister said that Kashmir solution would be found very soon 2009

  • All attention should be given to making a new administration consisting of honest people, who have no desire to befool their own people and world just to fill their pockets with dollars.

    Bush, Pakistan Leaders In Dilemma 2008

  • And they went on to befool my reason, whilst I heard their words, but returned them no reply because of their unknowing that the dogs were my brothers.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • It was noised abroad in the city that Calamity Ahmad had undertaken to lay hands on Dalilah the Wily, and Zaynab said to her, “O my mother, an thou be indeed a trickstress, do thou befool Ahmad al-Danaf and his company.”

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • O Neaera, put your tricks, and practise hereafter upon somebody else, you shall befool me no longer.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • Almost all the people and religionsagree on one point - that telling lies is a huge sin - however, theywill never hesitate to speak the lies and befool the masses.

    How Masses Will Realise Their Importance? 2007

  • Prometheus was forward to cut up a great ox and set portions before them, trying to befool the mind of Zeus.

    Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, and Homerica 2007

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