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. Burke.
2. To frustrate or disappoint.
It deludes thy search. Dryden.
Syn. — To mislead; deceive; beguile; cajole; cheat; dupe. See Deceive.