inveigle
Definitions
To persuade someone to do something by means of flattery or deception
（用花言巧语或欺骗）诱使，哄骗
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedHard to slice cleanly because it reached English through Old French aveugler 'to blind,' from Vulgar Latin ab oculis 'away from the eyes' = eyeless, blind. To inveigle was first to 'blind' someone — to deceive. The modern softer sense is to coax through flattery.
Why It Means This
The hidden ocul word. It comes from ab oculis — 'away from the eyes,' i.e. blind. To inveigle once meant to blind, and blinding meant deceiving. Over time the word lost its harshness: today you inveigle someone not by blinding them but by charming them — sweet-talking your way in or coaxing something out of them.
Usage Guide
- inveigle one's way into: gain entry by charm or trickery (inveigle your way into a party).
- inveigle someone into doing: coax them into an action.
- inveigle X out of someone: extract X (money, secrets) by sweet-talking.
Register: formal/literary, faintly old-fashioned. Pronunciation varies: /ɪnˈveɪɡl̩/ or /ɪnˈviːɡl̩/.
Example Sentences
- 1.
He managed to inveigle his way into the exclusive club.
- 2.
She inveigled her brother into lending her the car.
- 3.
They tried to inveigle money out of the elderly widow.