(verb) : dē-cĭpĭo, cēpi, ceptum, 3, capio, primarily signifies to catch away, catch up, seize an animal while running, fleeing, etc. (whence decipula, a snare, trap); but occurs only in the trop. sense (acc. to capio
* No. II. B.), to catch, ensnare, entrap, beguile, elude, deceive, cheat (for syn. cf.: fraudo, emungo, circumscribo, circumvenio, frustror, verba do, impono, fallo): fiunt transennae ubi decipiuntur dolis, etc.,Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 9 sq.: ita decipiemus fovea lenonem Lycum,id. Poen. 1, 1, 59; id. Amph. 1, 1, 268 et saep.: eo deceptum, quod neque, etc.,Caes. B. G. 1, 14: T. Roscius novem homines honestissimos ... induxit, decepit, omni fraude et perfidia fefellit,Cic. Rosc. Am. 40, 117; cf.: illa amphibolia, quae Croesum decepit, vel Chrysippum potuisset fallere,id. Div. 2, 56 fin.; Verg. A. 4, 17 al.: homines imperitos et per colloquium deceptos crudelissime interfecisse, Caes. B. C. 1, 85, 3; so per aliquid,id. ib. 3, 82 fin.; Liv. 1, 9 al.: in nullo verbo eum memoria decepit,Sen. Contr. 1. Praef. 18: jam semel in prima spe deceptos,Liv. 36, 40; for which spe affinitatis deceptum,Suet. Tib. 65; cf.: deceptus nocte,Quint. 4, 2, 71: cupidine falso,Hor. S. 1, 1, 61: specie recti,id. A. P. 25 et saep.: amatorem amicae decipiunt vitia,id. S. 1, 3, 38.—Poet., in Gr. construction: Prometheus dulci laborum decipitur sono, is beguiled of his sufferings (i. e. forgets his sufferings, being beguiled with sweet melody), Hor. Od. 2, 13, 38.
* Of inanimate objects: exspectationibus decipiendis,Cic. de Or. 2, 71, 289; cf.: quo opinio decipitur,Quint. 6, 3, 64: oculos,Ov. R. Am. 346; cf. id. M. 3, 431: nervos,Pers. 4, 45: volatile pecus facile custodiam pastoris decipit,Col. 8, 4, 3: judicium error,Ov. Pont. 3, 9, 11: specimen istud virtutis,Liv. 8, 7: sic tamen absumo decipioque diem,Ov. Tr. 4, 10, 114; cf. id. H. 19, 55 Loers.; Stat. Silv. 4, 4, 19; Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 233: quomodo vinum potantem decipit,Vulg. Hab. 2, 5.
* Absol.: victima deceptus decipientis ero,Ov. Am. 3, 3, 22: ab tergo et super caput decepere insidiae,Liv. 22, 4; Plin. 18, 24, 56, § 204.

s. TLL