defrauded
UK[dɪˈfrɔːdɪd]US[dɪˈfrɔːdɪd]
v
Deprived someone of money, rights, or property by deception.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
fraud
ed
de
completely
fraud
deceit
ed
past tense suffix
Etymology
The word "defrauded" is built upon the Latin noun fraus, meaning "deceit" or "cheating," which itself may trace back to a Proto-Indo-European root related to harming or injuring. The intensive Latin prefix de- was added to form the verb defraudare, meaning "to cheat thoroughly." This verb entered Middle English from Old French, carrying the sense of depriving someone through deliberate deception. The modern form "defrauded" applies this concept specifically to the dishonest acquisition of assets or rights, with the "-ed" suffix marking the action as completed in the past.
Analysis
Structure: de (completely) + fraud (deceit) + ed (past tense suffix)
- de: A Latin prefix meaning "completely," "down," or "away." In this word, it functions as an intensifier.
- fraud: From Latin fraus (deceit, injury). It functions as the core root noun meaning "deception."
- ed: An Old English suffix used to form the past tense and past participle of regular verbs.
Examples
The corrupt official was found to have defrauded the government of millions.
Investors felt they had been defrauded by the company's false promises.
He used a fake identity to defraud the elderly couple of their life savings.