1. pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury): "she feigned nervousness"Similarsimulatefakeshamaffectgive the appearance ofmake a show ofmake a pretense ofplay atgo through the motions ofinformal:put onpretendput it onfakeshambluffposeposturemasquerademake believeactplayactgo through the motionsput on a false displaymalingerinformal:kidmess
▪ invent (a story or excuse).
▪ indulge in pretense.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere ‘mold, contrive’. Senses in Middle English (taken from Latin) included ‘make something’, ‘invent a story, excuse, or allegation’, hence ‘make a pretense of a feeling or response’. Compare with fiction and figment.
