ˈkəz ə n verb
( cozened ; cozened ; cozening -z( ə )niŋ ; cozens )
Etymology: obsolete Italian cozzonare to act like a horse trader or knave, to cheat, from cozzone horse trader, matchmaker, from Latin coction-, coctio, cocion-, cocio horse trader
transitive verb
1. : to deceive by artful wheedling or tricky dishonesty : cheat , defraud
cozening his unsuspecting and unsophisticated brother
2. : to beguile craftily : victimize by chicanery : delude , deceive
he had cozened the world by fine phrases — T.B.Macaulay
3. : to bring about, induce, or obtain by artful wheedling or tricky dishonesty
cozening the old man into signing the paper
with a conscious knowledge of their art, cozened their supper out of Mrs. Torrelli — John Steinbeck
intransitive verb
: to act with artful deceit : chisel
cheated and plundered by gentlemen who prospered in cozening — V.L.Parrington
Synonyms: see cheat