verb
cozen
KUZ-un/ˈkʌzən/
To trick or deceive someone.
The dealer cozens the customer by secretly removing the ball from beneath the cups.
Etymology
The origin is uncertain: one suggestion connects the deception to pretending to be someone's cousin; another points to a Middle English word for fraud or trickery.
In context
He thinketh to cozen us out of our share of 15,000 ducats.
More examples
- He cozened his neighbors out of their savings.
- Don't let a charming smile cozen you.
- She is cozening customers with promises she cannot keep.
Forms
cozen · cozens · cozened · cozening
Similar words
- deceive
- Deceive need not involve gaining anything from the false belief.
- swindle
- Swindle specifically involves cheating someone out of money or property.