seduce

What it means

1. transitiveTo beguile or lure (someone) away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct; to lead astray.First known use 1520s

   Your father was seduced by the dark side of The Force.

   1983, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

   2 more examples

   […] they alledged, That becauſe I had ſome Rudiments of Reaſon, added to the natural pravity of thoſe Animals, it was to be feared, I might be able to ſeduce them into the woody and mountainous parts of the Country, and bring them in Troops by night to deſtroy the Houyhnhnms Cattle, as being naturally of the ravenous kind, and averſe from Labour.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 308

   As a parish priest in England he had dabbled in the black arts, seduced a number of his congregation from their faith and finally celebrated the Black Mass.

   1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 30

   Synonyms: corrupt, lead astray, misguide, bribe, adulterate, corrupt, debauch, demoralize

2. transitiveTo entice or induce (someone) to engage in a sexual relationship.First known use 1550s

   She also approaches the fires, and seeks to seduce young men.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 153

   1 more example

   "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" "Do you want me to seduce you?"

   1967, Calder Willingham, Buck Henry, The Graduate

   Synonyms: debauch, forlead, pick up, vamp

3. broadlyeuphemistictransitiveTo have sexual intercourse with.

   He had repeatedly seduced the girl in his car, hotels and his home.

   Synonyms: coitize, go to bed with, sleep with, Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight

In a sentence

[…] they alledged, That becauſe I had ſome Rudiments of Reaſon, added to the natural pravity of thoſe Animals, it was to be feared, I might be able to ſeduce them into the woody and mountainous parts of the Country, and bring them in Troops by night to deſtroy the Houyhnhnms Cattle, as being naturally of the ravenous kind, and averſe from Labour.

1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 308

Where it comes from

1. Latinsēdūcō“to lead apart or astray”
2. Englishseduce

Borrowed from Latin sēdūcō (“to lead apart or astray”), from sē- (“aside, away, astray”) + dūcō (“to lead”); see duct. Compare adduce, conduce, deduce, etc. and Middle English seduct.

First known use: 1520s