1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.
I will never touch The Orb, even though its mysterious glow seduces and beguiles.
(transitive) To cause (time) to seem to pass quickly, by way of pleasant diversion.