cozen
English
Etymology 1
From coz(y) + -en.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkəʊzən/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈkoʊzən/
Verb
cozen (third-person singular simple present cozens, present participle cozening, simple past and past participle cozened)
- (intransitive) To become cozy; (by extension) to become acquainted, comfortable, or familiar with.
- 2008, Hannah Howell, Silver Flame, page 354:
- "As I see it, Master Fraser, a 'bairn' ought to be verra concerned when a mon thrice her age cozens up to her."
- 2013, Rick Cox, Orphan Moon, page 180:
- A wasp nest cozened up in the corner of the far ceiling.
- 2013, Kim Stanley Robinson, The Wild Shore, page 26:
- I heard someone at the swap meet say they were going to cozen up to someone, and someone else told me my sales pitch was a filibuster.
-
Usage notes
- Usually used with up.
Etymology 2
Perhaps from obsolete Italian cozzonare (“to cheat”), from cozzone (“middleman, broker”), from Latin cocio (“dealer”).
Alternative forms
- coosen, coosin (both obsolete)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkʌzən/
- Rhymes: -ʌzən
- Homophone: cousin
Verb
cozen (third-person singular simple present cozens, present participle cozening, simple past and past participle cozened)
- (archaic) To cheat; to defraud; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way. [from late 16th c.]
- 1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 54-56,
- […] good Vulcan, for Cupids sake that hath cousned us all: befriend us as thou maiest […]
- 1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act III, Scene 2,
- What devil was't / That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind?
- a. 1667, Jeremy Taylor, 1851, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 1, page 895,
- It is certain that children may be cozened into goodness, and sick men to health, and passengers in a storm into safety; and the reason of these is, — because not only the end is fair, and charitable, and just, but the means are such which do no injury to the persons which are to receive benefit; […] .
- 1866, Spoils, By a Receiver, Charles Chauncey Burr (editor), The Old Guard: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Principles of 1776 and 1787, Volume 4, page 497,
- The man, too, who has been matrimonially cozened, "would all the world might be cozened," for he has been cozened, and beaten too; but with him the cudgel is "hallowed;" he would "hang it o'er the altar;" perhaps for the reason given by the "Merry Wives of Windsor," because "it hath done meritorious service;" and no sooner is he, by a seemingly merciful disposition of Providence, released from the cudgeler, but he is in haste to be cozened and beaten again.
- 1914, Rafael Sabatini, The Gates of Doom, 2001, page 217,
- But that you should have been cozened with me, that my cozening should in part have been a natural sequel to your own, rather than an independent error of mine, is a helpful reflection to me in this dark hour.
- Synonym: beguile
- 1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 54-56,
Usage notes
Modern usage is generally to effect a dated style.
Related terms
- cozener
- cozenage
Translations
archaic: to cheat, defraud
|
|
References
- Webster's New School and Office Dictionary, copyright 1962
- "cozen" on Online Etymology Dictionary