entrap
UK: ɪnˈtræp | US: ɪnˈtræp
vt. to catch or deceive someone by tricking them
vt. to lure into a compromising or dangerous situation
vt. (law) to induce someone to commit a crime for the purpose of prosecution
The word "entrap" combines the prefix "en-" (from Old French, meaning "cause to be") with the root "trap" (from Old English "træppe," meaning a snare or device for catching). The prefix "en-" transforms the noun "trap" into a verb, giving the sense of "causing someone to be caught in a trap." Historically, the term evolved in Middle English to describe both literal trapping (e.g., hunting) and figurative deception, later formalized in legal contexts to describe deliberate inducement of criminal acts.
The spy used a fake identity to entrap the informant.
Critics argue that sting operations unfairly entrap desperate individuals.
The hunter carefully set a snare to entrap the wild boar.
The lawsuit accused the company of attempting to entrap competitors with false contracts.
She felt entrapped in a toxic relationship with no easy escape.