seduce
verbUK /sɪˈdjuːs/ · US /sɪˈd(j)uːs/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin sēdūcō (“to lead apart or astray”), from sē- (“aside, away, astray”) + dūcō (“to lead”); see duct. Compare adduce, conduce, deduce, etc. and Middle English seduct.
1
To beguile or lure (someone) away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct; to lead astray.
- […] they alledged, That becauſe I had ſome Rudiments of Reaſon, added to the natural pravity of thoſe Animals, it was to be feared, I might be able to ſeduce them into the woody and mountainous parts of the Country, and bring them in Troops by night to deſtroy the Houyhnhnms Cattle, as being naturally of the ravenous kind, and averſe from Labour.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 308:
- As a parish priest in England he had dabbled in the black arts, seduced a number of his congregation from their faith and finally celebrated the Black Mass.1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 30:
1 more example
- Your father was seduced by the dark side of The Force.1983, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi:
2
To entice or induce (someone) to engage in a sexual relationship.
- She also approaches the fires, and seeks to seduce young men.1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 153:
- "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" "Do you want me to seduce you?"1967, Calder Willingham, Buck Henry, The Graduate:
3
Broadly, Euphemistic To have sexual intercourse with.
- He had repeatedly seduced the girl in his car, hotels and his home.
4
To win over or attract.
- He was seduced by the bright lights and glamour of the city.
- Derived terms
- seduceable, seducee, seducible, unseduce, unseduced
- Related terms
- seduction, seductive, seducement, seducer, seductress