cheat

[[t]tʃit[/t]]

v. t.

1) to defraud; swindle

2) to deceive; influence by fraud

3) to elude; escape:

to cheat death[/ex]

4) to practice fraud or deceit

5) to violate rules or agreements:

to cheat at cards[/ex]

6) to take an examination in a dishonest way, as by having improper access to answers

7) inf to be sexually unfaithful (often fol. by on)

8) a person who cheats; swindler; deceiver; imposter

9) a fraud, swindle, or deception

•

Etymology: 1325–75; ME cheten to escheat, der. of chet (n.), aph. for achet, var. of eschet escheat cheat′a•ble, adj. cheat′ing•ly, adv. syn: cheat, deceive, trick, victimize refer to the use of fraud or artifice to obtain an unfair advantage or gain. cheat usu. means to be dishonest in order to make a profit for oneself: to cheat customers by shortchanging them. deceive suggests misleading someone by false words or actions: He deceived his parents about his whereabouts. trick means to mislead by a ruse or stratagem, often of a crafty or dishonorable kind: I was tricked into signing the note. victimize means to make a victim of; it connotes a particularly contemptible act: to victimize a blind person.