Defn: The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.
Note: When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law. Wharton.
Syn. — Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle; deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem.
CHEAT
Cheat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating.] Etym:
[See CHeat, n., Escheat.]
1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle. I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island. Shak.
2. To beguile. Sir W. Scott. To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.
Syn. — To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile; mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink; deceive; bamboozle.
CHEAT
Cheat, v. i.
Defn: To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.
CHEAT
Cheat, n. Etym: [Perh. from OF. cheté goods, chattels.]