Monday, July 26, 2010

Inveigling

Hardeep Singh Kohli introduced an extract from Alan Johnson: Failed Rock Star for Pick of the Week last night by saying that making radio programmes was something the former Health Secretary had time for ‘Now that he is no longer so inveigled in matters of government.’

I thought he must have meant to say embroiled, until I checked the dictionary.

Inveigle: To blind in mind or judgement; to beguile, deceive, cajole; to gain over or take captive by deceitful allurement; to entice, allure, seduce; to entrap, ensnare, entangle; to force (something) upon a person by cajolery; in good or neutral sense, to beguile.

Embroil on the other hand can mean: a state of entanglement or confusion; a disturbance, uproar, a quarrel or mental disturbance, ‘worry’.

Take your pick