v. Obs. or arch. [ad. Gr. κρητίζειν to play the Cretan, to lie, cheat, f. Κρήτη CRETE. (Cf. Titus i. 12.)]
1. intr. To play the Cretan, i.e., to lie, tell lies.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. vi. 17 (1655), 102. To lye, was in a proverbiall speech, said, to cretize, or play the Cretians.
1842. Blackw. Mag., LI. 17. He ‘bounced’ a little, he ‘Cretized.’
† 2. trans. To overreach or outdo by lying. Obs.
a. 1673. J. Caryl, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xviii. 26. He will Cretize the Cretians, supplant the supplanters.
