cozen

/'kʌzn/

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Word: Cozen

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: To cozen someone means to cheat or trick them, often in a clever or deceitful way. It involves dishonesty and manipulating someone to gain something, usually money or advantage.

Usage Instructions:

• When using "cozen," you typically refer to situations where someone is being tricked or deceived. It is often used in more formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.

Example:

• "The con artist cozened the elderly couple into giving him their life savings by pretending to be a financial advisor."

Advanced Usage:

• "Cozen" can also be used in a more figurative sense, to describe someone who is being dishonest in a relationship or agreement.

Word Variants:

• Cozening (noun): The act of deceiving or tricking someone.
  • Example: "His cozening left many people feeling betrayed."

Different Meanings:

• While "cozen" primarily means to cheat or trick someone, it can also imply being false to someone or not being truthful in one’s intentions.

Synonyms:

• Cheat
• Deceive
• Trick
• Con
• Defraud
• Swindle

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that use "cozen," but you might encounter phrases like "pull the wool over someone's eyes," which means to deceive someone.

Summary:

"Cozen" is a verb that describes the act of tricking or cheating someone, often in a clever manner. It's used in contexts involving deceit and dishonesty.

Academic

Verb

1. cheat or trick
   • He cozened the money out of the old man
2. act with artful deceit
3. be false to; be dishonest with

Synonyms

• deceive
• lead on
• delude