Jastrow: עֲלִילָה

עֲלִילָה f. (b. h.; preced.) 1) [bringing about, causation,] dealing, government, disposition.—Pl. עֲלִילוֹת. Ex. R. s. 2, v. עָוַת. —2) (v. עִילָה) [round about way,] circumvention, perverseness, insidiousness; pretext, false charge. Snh. 101ᵇ שלשה באו בע׳ three men (Biblical personages) came with indirectness (instead of praying in a straightforward manner). Gen. R. s. 93 מתחלה באת עלינו בע׳ from the start thou camest against us with insidiousness (trying to find charges against us); Tanḥ. Vayigg. 5; Yalk. Gen. 151. Esth. R. to III, 9 המן … בע׳ גדולה וכ׳ Haman, the wicked, came with great trickery against Israel (tempting them to sin). Ib. באו בע׳ וכ׳ they (the Israelites) came with a pretext, saying, let us go to sacrifice (Ex. V, 3). Pesik. R. s. 26 ראה היאך תמצא לו ע׳ וכ׳ see how thou canst find a charge against Jeremiah and be revenged on him; a. fr.—Pl. as ab. Ex. R. l. c., v. עָוַת. Num. R. s. 20 שלא ליתן לו ע׳ (not יתן) so as not to allow him any excuses.