tr.v. be·guiled, be·guil·ing, be·guiles
1. To deceive by guile; delude.
2. To take away from by or as if by guile; cheat: a disease that has beguiled me of strength.
3. To distract the attention of; divert: "to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming" (Abraham Lincoln).
4. To pass (time) pleasantly.
5. To amuse or charm; delight.
I find it interesting sometimes that the most commonly assumed definition of a word is frequently lowest in the hierarchy of definitions.
Take this word, "beguile.". You tend to think of it as something good, right? And generally feminine. Her beguiling smile, etc.
We think that describing someone as "beguiling" is a compliment. But you'd have to consider the source, and possibly even facial expressions, I guess. For if someone super wordnerdy described, say, Angelina Jolie as beguiling, but with a sardonic twist to his mouth, the presumed definition would be, "conniving husband stealer." But if the same person said it with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, it would mean that Angie is the most captivating example of human flesh ever.
Just a random thought about a silly little word.
3 comments:
I do think of it in the negative because of romance novels -- it's a word frequently used to describe the smile of a beautiful female character with ill intent.
I don't get the Angelina thing. There are so many more beautiful women to ogle -- she's just scary with those weird tattoos and skinny legs.
Did you see her on the cover of last month's VF? She looked like an anorexic fembot -- completely not real. I saw some tabloid mag cover (probably in some airport) that said Jen was stealing Brad back, and I thought HA! Good for her.
No, just other pics here and there, icky. Jen is GORGEOUS! But why would she want him back? Blech.
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