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dē-cĭpĭo , cēpi, ceptum, 3, v. a. capio, primarily signifies to catch away, catch up, seize an animal while running, fleeing, etc. (whence decipula, a snare, trap); but occurs only in the trop. sense (acc. to capio,
I.no. II. B.), to catch, ensnare, entrap, beguile, elude, deceive, cheat (for syn. cf.: “fraudo, emungo, circumscribo, circumvenio, frustror, verba do, impono, fallo): fiunt transennae ubi decipiuntur dolis, etc.,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 9 sq.: “ita decipiemus fovea lenonem Lycum,” id. Poen. 1, 1, 59; id. Amph. 1, 1, 268 et saep.: “eo deceptum, quod neque, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 1, 14: “T. Roscius novem homines honestissimos ... induxit, decepit, omni fraude et perfidia fefellit,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 40, 117; cf.: “illa amphibolia, quae Croesum decepit, vel Chrysippum potuisset fallere,” id. Div. 2, 56 fin.; Verg. A. 4, 17 al.: homines imperitos et per colloquium deceptos crudelissime interfecisse, Caes. B. C. 1, 85, 3; “so per aliquid,” id. ib. 3, 82 fin.; Liv. 1, 9 al.: “in nullo verbo eum memoria decepit,” Sen. Contr. 1. Praef. 18: “jam semel in prima spe deceptos,” Liv. 36, 40; “for which spe affinitatis deceptum,” Suet. Tib. 65; cf.: “deceptus nocte,” Quint. 4, 2, 71: “cupidine falso,” Hor. S. 1, 1, 61: “specie recti,” id. A. P. 25 et saep.: “amatorem amicae decipiunt vitia,” id. S. 1, 3, 38.—Poet., in Gr. construction: Prometheus dulci laborum decipitur sono, is beguiled of his sufferings (i. e. forgets his sufferings, being beguiled with sweet melody), Hor. Od. 2, 13, 38.—
b. Of inanimate objects: “exspectationibus decipiendis,” Cic. de Or. 2, 71, 289; cf.: “quo opinio decipitur,” Quint. 6, 3, 64: “oculos,” Ov. R. Am. 346; cf. id. M. 3, 431: “nervos,” Pers. 4, 45: “volatile pecus facile custodiam pastoris decipit,” Col. 8, 4, 3: “judicium error,” Ov. Pont. 3, 9, 11: “specimen istud virtutis,” Liv. 8, 7: “sic tamen absumo decipioque diem,” Ov. Tr. 4, 10, 114; cf. id. H. 19, 55 Loers.; Stat. Silv. 4, 4, 19; Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 233: “quomodo vinum potantem decipit,” Vulg. Hab. 2, 5.—
2. Absol.: “victima deceptus decipientis ero,” Ov. Am. 3, 3, 22: “ab tergo et super caput decepere insidiae,” Liv. 22, 4; Plin. 18, 24, 56, § 204.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (23):
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 1.14
    • Cicero, For Sextus Roscius of Ameria, 40.117
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.431
    • Plautus, Poenulus, 1.1
    • Plautus, Rudens, 4.7
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.17
    • Old Testament, Habakkuk, 2.5
    • Horace, Satires, 1.1.61
    • Horace, Satires, 1.3.38
    • Horace, Ars Poetica, 25
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 2.71
    • Suetonius, Tiberius, 65
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 36, 40
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 22, 4
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 8, 7
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, 9
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 2.56
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 4, 2.71
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 6, 3.64
    • Ovid, Tristia, 4.10
    • Persius, Saturae, 4
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 8.4.3
    • Seneca the Elder, Controversiae, 1
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