You searched for: “cozening
cozen (KUHZ uhn) (verb), cozens; cozened; cozening
1. To cheat or to rob someone by persuasion: When everything else failed, the estate manager tried to cozen his elderly client into leaving the bulk of her estate to him when she passed away.
2. To mislead by means of a thievish trick: The crook tried to cozen his girlfriend into selling her jewelry so he could get the money from her with a promise of paying her back.
3. To persuade or to induce someone to do something by cajoling or wheedling (persuading by flattery or guile): Many operas have villains who try to cozen the innocent heroine, persuading her of his love.
4. Etymology: from about 1573; earlier, cozener, "a cheater"; perhaps it was borrowed from French cousiner, a claim to be a cousin for some advantage, "a cheater" who pretends to be honest; from cousin or developed from Middle English cosyn, "a fraud, trickery".

Actually of uncertain origin, maybe even from Old French coçon, "dealer", from Latin cocionem, "horse dealer". In other words, the real origin of this and its related formats is unknown!

I think it no sin

To cozen him that would unjustly win.

—William Shakespeare: "All’s Well that Ends Well", iv. 2.
To cheat, to defraud for a petty reason.
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To act dishonestly, to deceive with a little trick.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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This entry is located in the following unit: cozen- (page 1)
cozening (adjective), more cozening, most cozening
1. Relating to misleading and fooling others: Kerri was so charming that people frequently overlooked her cozening personality traits.
2. Pertaining to artful deceit by pretending to be honest: The leader of the tourist group was often acting in a cozening manner by inventing historical references where none existed.
3. Characteristic of deceiving another person or people: Jim told Bonita to quit her cozening talk and to leave him alone.

Although the cartoon is a verb, it still helps to explain what this adjective entry means.

Using a To cheat someone with a trivial trick.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
for a list of additional Mickey Bach illustrations.

This entry is located in the following unit: cozen- (page 1)
Word Entries at Get Words: “cozening
To mislead by means of a petty trick or fraud with flattery or clever and crafty persuasion to take a course of action that usually results in a loss of money or something else of value. (2)
Being dishonest with someone or with people. (1)