cheat

n. [ rob. an abbrevation of escheat, lands or tenements that fall to a lord or to the state by forfeiture, or by the death of the tenant without heirs; the meaning being explained by the frauds, real or supposed, that were resorted to in procuring escheats. See Escheat. ] 1. An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. [ 1913 Webster ]

When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater. [ 1913 Webster ]

Airy wonders, which cheats interpret. Johnson [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; -- called also chess. See Chess. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law. Wharton.

Syn. -- Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle; deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating. ] [ See Cheat, n., Escheat. ] 1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To beguile. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.

Syn. -- To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile; mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink; deceive; bamboozle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. from OF. cheté goods, chattels. ] Wheat, or bread made from wheat. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their purest cheat,
Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being cheated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Capability of being cheated. [ 1913 Webster ]