Finesentence logo

Cozened: meaning, definitions and examples

🎭
Add to dictionary

cozened

 

[ ˈkəzən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

deception, trickery

To cozen means to deceive or cheat someone, usually through trickery or cunning. It often implies a form of swindling in which trust is exploited to achieve the deceiver's goals.

Synonyms

cheat, deceive, dupe, hoodwink, swindle

Examples of usage

  • He cozened the elderly lady into giving him her savings.
  • The con artist cozened the investors with false promises.
  • She cozened her way into the exclusive club.
  • They cozened the customers with a fake sale.

Translations

Translations of the word "cozened" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enganado

🇮🇳 धोखा दिया हुआ

🇩🇪 betrogen

🇮🇩 ditipu

🇺🇦 обманутий

🇵🇱 oszukany

🇯🇵 だまされた

🇫🇷 trompé

🇪🇸 engañado

🇹🇷 aldatılmış

🇰🇷 속은

🇸🇦 مُخَدَّع

🇨🇿 ošizený

🇸🇰 ošizený

🇨🇳 被欺骗的

🇸🇮 prevaran

🇮🇸 svikinn

🇰🇿 алдауға ұшыраған

🇬🇪 მოატყუეს

🇦🇿 aldadılmış

🇲🇽 engañado

Word origin

The word 'cozen' originates from the late 16th century, derived from the Italian word 'cozzonare,' which means 'to deceive' or 'to beguile.' The term reflects the Italian roots of the Renaissance period when practices of trickery became prominent in society. Over time, the word made its way into English, maintaining the essence of deceitful behavior. The usage of 'cozen' in English literature can be traced back to writings of the 16th and 17th centuries, where it appeared in plays and poetry as a way to describe cunning actions. Its evolution continued as it got absorbed into common vernacular, often associated with swindlers and con artists. Today, 'cozen' is often used in a figurative sense, illustrating the wide-ranging implications of deceit in various aspects of life.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,527, 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.