De*lude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluding.] [L. deludere, delusum; de- + ludere to play, make sport of, mock. See Ludicrous.] 1. To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the mind or judgment of; to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of.

To delude the nation by an airy phantom.

2. To frustrate or disappoint.

It deludes thy search.

Syn. -- To mislead; deceive; beguile; cajole; cheat; dupe. See Deceive.

• to deceive someone into believing something which is false