deceit
UK: dɪˈsiːt | US: dɪˈsiːt
n. the act of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
n. a dishonest or fraudulent practice; deception
The word deceit traces back to Latin decipere, which literally meant "to take away" (de- + capere). Over time, it evolved in Old French to deceite, emphasizing the act of misleading or cheating. The suffix -it solidified its role as a noun denoting the abstract concept of deception. The logic reflects a progression from physical "taking" to metaphorical "cheating."
His deceit was uncovered when the forged documents were examined.
She realized the extent of his deceit only after years of manipulation.
The company's financial reports were full of deceit.
Political campaigns sometimes rely on deceit to sway public opinion.
Trust broken by deceit is hard to rebuild.