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Guileful Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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guileful

[หˆษกaษชlfษ™l ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

describing character

Guileful refers to someone who is cunning or deceitful, using cleverness to achieve their goals, often at the expense of others. It implies a sense of craftiness and the ability to outsmart others through trickery or manipulation. This word often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the individual may not be trustworthy. In literature, guileful characters are often portrayed as adversaries or villains, adept at using their wits to deceive rather than to foster honest interactions.

Synonyms

crafty, cunning, deceitful, sly, tricky.

Examples of usage

  • The guileful merchant tricked the villagers into buying fake goods.
  • His guileful nature made it difficult to tell when he was being sincere.
  • She used her guileful charm to navigate the complex social dynamics.
  • The guileful fox outsmarted the hound.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • In literature, many characters are described as guileful, often as clever villains or deceptive heroes.
  • Shakespeareโ€™s plays often feature guileful characters who use trickery to achieve their goals.
  • Fables and fairy tales frequently depict cunning characters employing guile to outsmart stronger foes.

Psychology

  • Guileful behavior can be linked to high emotional intelligence, as it often involves understanding others' feelings.
  • Research suggests that people with guileful traits might excel in social manipulation.
  • Cunning individuals often navigate social environments more effectively, leveraging their guile to influence outcomes.

Pop Culture

  • Guileful characters frequently populate movies, where their cleverness often leads to elaborate plots or twists.
  • In popular video games, players sometimes use guileful strategies to outsmart opponents.
  • Fictional shows often feature trickster archetypes that embody guile, leading to both comedic and dramatic situations.

History

  • Throughout history, many diplomats have been described as guileful for their strategic maneuvering.
  • Certain military tactics involve guile and deception to mislead opponents.
  • Famous historical figures, like Machiavelli, wrote extensively about the use of guile in politics and leadership.

Origin of 'guileful'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'guileful' comes from the Old French term 'guile,' which means trickery.
  • Related to the Middle English word 'guile,' showing how language evolves over time.
  • Guileful can be traced back to the Latin word 'wicca,' meaning to beguile or deceive.

The word 'guileful' originates from the Old French term 'guile', which means 'deceit' or 'trickery'. This term was derived from the Latin word 'guile' from 'guile' meaning 'to cheat' or 'to deceive'. It entered the English language in the early 15th century, reflecting the societal perceptions of deceit and cleverness inherent in human interactions. The suffix '-ful' means 'full of' or 'characterized by', hence forming an adjective that depicts someone as full of guile. Over the centuries, the usage of 'guileful' has remained relatively stable, often reflecting the same themes of cunning deceit and trickery, particularly in literary contexts where characters are portrayed with complex and often morally ambiguous motivations.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,251, 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.