cozening

1 definition found

cozening - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cozen \Coz"en\ (k?z"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd);
     p. pr. & vb. n. Cozening (-'n-?ng). ] [From cousin, hence,
     literally, to deceive through pretext of relationship, F.
     cousiner.]
     To cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by
     small arts, or in a pitiful way.
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           He had cozened the world by fine phrases. --Macaulay.
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           Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the
           letters.                                 --Locke.
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           Goring loved no man so well but that he would cozen
           him,
           and expose him to public mirth for having been cozened.
                                                    --Clarendon.
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