Definitions
to obtain by deception
Etymology
About
餂 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 食 ('food, eating') with the phonetic component 舌 ('tongue'), which also indicates the pronunciation. Originally, it referred to obtaining food or other benefits through deceit, essentially acting as bait to lure someone in. Over time, the meaning broadened to encompass the general concept of bait or entrapment. The character's structure links a consumable item to the tongue, the organ of taste and speech, thus reinforcing the idea of using verbal deception to acquire sustenance or advantage, much like a literal offering of food leading to metaphorical entrapment.
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