hocus

verb ho·cus \ˈhō-kəs\

ho·cussed or ho·cusedho·cus·sing or ho·cus·ing

Definition of HOCUS

transitive verb

: to perpetrate a trick or hoax on : deceive

: to befuddle often with drugged liquor; also : dope, drug <hocussed the favorite before the race>

obsolete hocus, noun, short for hocus-pocus

First Known Use: 1675

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