Cozen: meaning, definitions and examples

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cozen

 

[ ˈkʌzən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

deceive someone

To cozen means to deceive or trick someone into believing something that is not true. It often involves cunning or deceitful actions to gain something, such as money or favor, from another person.

Synonyms

beguile, dupe, swindle, trick

Examples of usage

  • He cozened his way into the inheritance.
  • She felt foolish after realizing she had been cozened.
  • The con artist cozened many people with his charm.
Context #2 | Verb

cheat or defraud

Cozen can also refer to the act of cheating or defrauding someone, often through deceptive strategies. This usage emphasizes the unethical nature of the act.

Synonyms

cheat, defraud, fleece

Examples of usage

  • The scammer cozened investors out of their money.
  • It's wrong to cozen your friends for personal gain.
  • He was cozened by a false promise.

Translations

Translations of the word "cozen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enganar

🇮🇳 धोखा देना

🇩🇪 betrügen

🇮🇩 menipu

🇺🇦 обманювати

🇵🇱 oszukiwać

🇯🇵 欺く

🇫🇷 tromper

🇪🇸 engañar

🇹🇷 aldatmak

🇰🇷 속이다

🇸🇦 يخدع

🇨🇿 podvádět

🇸🇰 ohrýzať

🇨🇳 欺骗

🇸🇮 prevarati

🇮🇸 svíkja

🇰🇿 алаяқтық жасау

🇬🇪 მატყუება

🇦🇿 aldatmaq

🇲🇽 engañar

Etymology

The word 'cozen' traces back to the early 17th century, derived from the Italian 'cosinare,' which means to deceive or to cheat. The Italian term itself is possibly rooted in the Latin 'cōsīnāre,' which means to devise or contrive. Over time, 'cozen' has evolved in English to specifically denote the act of tricking or deceiving someone. Initially used in contexts involving fraud or deception, it has maintained a somewhat negative connotation throughout its history. Historically, the verb was commonly associated with various forms of swindling, particularly in financial contexts, reflecting the societal concerns over dishonesty and deceitful behavior in interactions among individuals.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,316, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.