guile
n. uncountablen. the clever use of tricks or lies to get what you want. It is often used to describe someone who is very good at hiding their true intentions.
n. the use of cunning or deceit to achieve an end. Often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of honesty or a manipulative nature.
He used his guile to trick the other players.
The politician was known for his guile, often using clever words to avoid answering difficult questions from the press.
The protagonist's journey is defined by a shift from innocence to a sophisticated understanding of the guile required to navigate the treacherous social hierarchies of the court.
From Middle English gile, from Anglo-Norman gile, from Old French guile (“deception”), from Frankish wīl (“ruse”), from Proto-Germanic wīlą, from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate via Proto-Germanic with wile.
Variant forms.