inveigle

[ in-vey-guhl, -vee- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·vei·gled, in·vei·gling.

1. to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements (usually followed by into ):

   to inveigle a person into playing bridge.

   Synonyms: persuade, beguile, induce

2. to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods (usually followed by from or away ):

   to inveigle a theater pass from a person.

   Synonyms: wheedle

inveigle

/ -ˈveɪ-; ɪnˈviːɡəl /

verb

1. tr; often foll by into or an infinitive to lead (someone into a situation) or persuade (to do something) by cleverness or trickery; cajole

   to inveigle customers into spending more

Derived Forms

• inˈveigler, noun
• inˈveiglement, noun

Other Words From

• in·veigle·ment noun
• in·veigler noun
• unin·veigled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inveigle¹

1485–95; variant of envegle < Anglo-French enveogler, equivalent to en- en- ¹ + Old French ( a ) vogler to blind, derivative of avogle blind < Vulgar Latin *aboculus eyeless, adj. derivative of phrase *ab oculīs without eyes. See ab-, ocular

Word History and Origins

Origin of inveigle¹

C15: from Old French avogler to blind, deceive, from avogle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis without eyes

Example Sentences

Prosecutors accuse Bateman of working with three of the women he says are his wives to “unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct and carry away” three children and transport them to Washington state.

From Seattle Times

What happened over the next four decades is a chilling tale of deception in which a man pretended to be the missing son of the landlord and inveigled himself into his house.

From BBC

All of those thinly veiled efforts to inveigle an answer are met with a stock response.

From New York Times

Just as you've bribed, bought, and inveigled your way out of scandals and bankruptcies, so you'll believe you can bluster and wriggle your way out of this moment, too.

From Salon

Guilfoyle also allegedly inveigled her with a private-plane trip to Rome, a cut of future speaking fees and a chance to report for the network.

From Salon