/ɡaɪl/
OriginFrom Middle English gile, from Anglo-Norman gile, from Old French guile (“deception”), from Frankish *wīl (“ruse”), from Proto-Germanic *wīlą, from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate via Proto-Germanic with wile.
- uncountableAstuteness often marked by a certain sense of cunning or artful deception.
“It was a result that owed a lot to a moment of guile from Ramires but more to a display of guts from the Brazilian and his team-mates after Terry's needless dismissal eight minutes before half-time fo”
“Estonia were struggling to get to grips with the game while Ireland were showing a composure and guile that demonstrated their experience in play-off ties.”
- countable, uncountableDeceptiveness, deceit, fraud, duplicity, dishonesty.
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
- To deceive, beguile, bewile.
“Who means no guile, be guiled soonest shall”
Formsguiles(plural) · guiles(present, singular, third-person) · guiling(participle, present) · guiled(participle, past) · guiled(past) · Guiles(plural)