Basic Details
Word: Beguile
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way.
Synonyms: Charm, allure, enchant, deceive
Antonyms: Repulse, bore, disillusion
Idioms and Phrases
- To beguile one's time: To spend time pleasantly, often in a way that distracts from worries. Example: "She decided to beguile her time by reading a good book while waiting for her appointment."
- Beguiled by beauty: Being entranced or misled by someone's or something's appearance. Example: "He was beguiled by her beauty and missed the warning signs in her behaviour."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The magician was able to beguile the audience with his clever tricks and illusions.
Example 2: Her smile seemed to beguile everyone at the party, making her the most popular guest of the night.
Example 3: The beautiful landscape beguiled the travellers, causing them to forget their journey and just admire the view.
Fun Fact
The word "beguile" comes from the Old French word "guioller," which means "to lead astray." It is fascinating how a word with such charming connotations can originally imply trickery!
Famous Quote
"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." Antoine de Saint-Exupry. This resonates with the idea of being beguiled by beauty beyond mere appearance.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "beguile" mean?
a) To confuse someone
b) To charm or enchant someone
c) To make someone angry
d) To ignore someone
Answer: b) To charm or enchant someone
2. Which of these is a synonym of "beguile"?
a) Deceive
b) Ignore
c) Exclude
d) Resent
Answer: a) Deceive
3. Which word is an antonym of "beguile"?
a) Charm
b) Bore
c) Allure
d) Enchant
Answer: b) Bore
4. Which sentence uses "beguile" correctly?
a) He tried to beguile his homework so he could play outside.
b) The singer's performance beguiled the crowd into silence.
c) She beguiled the cat to catch it.
d) They beguiled their lunch for dinner.
Answer: b) The singer's performance beguiled the crowd into silence.
5. What does the idiom "to beguile one's time" mean?
a) To waste time.
b) To spend time pleasantly.
c) To forget about time.
d) To waste someone else's time.
Answer: b) To spend time pleasantly.
