dē-cĭpĭo, cēpi, ceptum, 3, v. a. [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,
I 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.—
b 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. P. 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. S. 4, 4, 19; Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 233: quomodo vinum potantem decipit, Vulg. Hab. 2, 5.—
2 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.