defraud

• defraude (obsolete)

From Middle English defrauden, from Old French defrauder, from de- + frauder.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɹɔːd/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɹɔd/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɹɑd/
• Rhymes: -ɔːd

defraud (third-person singular simple present defrauds, present participle defrauding, simple past and past participle defrauded)

1. (transitive) To obtain money or property from (a person) by fraud; to swindle.
   • 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter II, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     I had never defrauded a man of a farthing, nor called him knave behind his back. But now the last rag that covered my nakedness had been torn from me. I was branded a blackleg, card-sharper, and murderer.

2. (archaic) To deprive.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 7:5:

     Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

   • 1872, William Goodell, “On Conjugal Onanism and Kindred Sins”, in Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery, volume 9, page 63:

     She is sinned against, because she is defrauded of her rights ^{(i.e. sexual satisfaction)}.

   • 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:

     Both laughed as they shook hands but Miss Tilehurst felt that she had been defrauded of something that she had looked forward to by Nora's offhand manner, and she was glad that Mr. Carrados took the occasion to rebuke his niece […]

• befraud
• defrauder

• fraudster

• frauded