By Dr Oliver Tearle
To ‘delude’ someone is to trick, cheat, or deceive them, although the word’s origins are interesting. It’s derived from the prefix de- and the Latin verb lūdere meaning ‘to play’: the same root which also gave us interlude, allusion, and even the game, Ludo (meaning ‘I play’).
This explains why to delude originally meant (as the OED defines it) ‘To play with (any one) to his injury or frustration, under pretence of acting seriously; to mock, esp. in hopes, expectations, or purposes; to cheat or disappoint the hopes of.’ Continue reading “20 of the Best ‘Deluded’ Synonyms”