different between decoy vs ensnare

English

Etymology

From Dutch de +? kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?di?k??/

Noun

decoy (plural decoys)

1. A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
2. A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.

Translations

Verb

decoy (third-person singular simple present decoys, present participle decoying, simple past and past participle decoyed)

1. (transitive) To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.

   to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net

   • 1770, Oliver Goldsmith, The Deserted Village

     E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, / The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy.

2. (intransitive) To act as, or use, a decoy. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Derived terms

• deke

Translations

Anagrams

• coyed

English

Alternative forms

• insnare

Etymology

From en- +? snare.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?sn??/, /?n-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?sn?(?)?/, /?n-/
• Rhymes: -??(r)

Verb

ensnare (third-person singular simple present ensnares, present participle ensnaring, simple past and past participle ensnared)

1. To entrap; to catch in a snare or trap.
   • 2005: Plato, Sophist, Translation by Lesley Brown, 250d-e,

     When we were asked to what one should apply the name “what is not”, we were ensnared in total paradox. Remember?

2. To entangle; to enmesh.

Related terms

• snare

Translations

Anagrams

• rennase