entrap
UK[ɪnˈtræp]US[ɪnˈtræp]
v
To catch or trick someone into doing or saying something, especially by making it seem like a normal situation.
v
To catch an animal in a trap.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
trap
en
cause to be
trap
snare
Etymology
The word 'entrap' is formed by combining the intensive prefix 'en-' with the noun 'trap'. The prefix 'en-', derived from Latin 'in-', serves to turn the following noun into a verb, imparting the meaning "to put into" or "to cause to be in" a state. The core element 'trap' originates from Old English 'træppe' or 'treppe', referring to a snare or a trick device, likely related to the concept of a stepping or tripping mechanism. Thus, the literal construction "to put into a trap" evolved logically into the modern abstract meanings of catching by deceit or luring into a compromising situation, whether applied to animals or, more figuratively, to people through cunning schemes.
Analysis
Structure: en (cause to be) + trap (snare)
- en: A prefix of French and Latin origin, meaning "to cause to be," "to put into," or "to make."
- trap: A word of Old English origin, from a Proto-Germanic root, meaning a snare or a device for catching animals or people.
Examples
The undercover agent attempted to entrap the suspect by offering him a bribe.
Some argue that overly aggressive sting operations can entrap individuals who would not otherwise have committed a crime.
The hunters used a clever pitfall to entrap the wild boar.