Library / English Dictionary

FEIGN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make believe with the intent to deceive

Example:

He shammed a headache

Synonyms:

affect; dissemble; feign; pretend; sham

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "feign" is one way to...):

belie; misrepresent (represent falsely)

Verb group:

make; make believe; pretend (represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "feign"):

play possum (to pretend to be dead)

take a dive (pretend to be knocked out, as of a boxer)

bull; bullshit; fake; talk through one's hat (speak insincerely or without regard for facts or truths)

mouth (articulate silently; form words with the lips only)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

feigning (pretending with intention to deceive)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a pretence of

Example:

he feigned sleep

Synonyms:

assume; feign; sham; simulate

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "feign" is one way to...):

act; dissemble; pretend (behave unnaturally or affectedly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "feign"):

play (pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity)

feint (deceive by a mock action)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

feigning (the act of giving a false appearance)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Had he appeared surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He looked very well, not as if he had been suffering in health or spirits, and he talked of Uppercross, of the Musgroves, nay, even of Louisa, and had even a momentary look of his own arch significance as he named her; but yet it was Captain Wentworth not comfortable, not easy, not able to feign that he was.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Now this rock belonged to fierce giants who lived upon it; and as he saw three of them striding about, he thought to himself, I can only save myself by feigning to be asleep; so he laid himself down as if he were in a sound sleep.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“What if he should be feigning this?” I asked, still holding his wrist.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

We agreed, without any more consultation, that we would both go, and that Dora was a little Impostor, who feigned to be rather unwell, because she liked to be petted.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But he said, and his voice was steady, and he still feigned to see with dull eyes and to shiver from his sickness: The way is clear.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Pike, the malingerer, who, in his lifetime of deceit, had often successfully feigned a hurt leg, was now limping in earnest.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or constant—which ever we are to call it—has subsisted through all the knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man!—and without selfishness—without encouraging a hope!—could he have seen her happy with another—Such a noble mind!—such openness, such sincerity!—no one can be deceived in HIM.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Well, I feigned courtship of Miss Ingram, because I wished to render you as madly in love with me as I was with you; and I knew jealousy would be the best ally I could call in for the furtherance of that end.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“It was a real attack this time,” I said: “another shock like the one that made him blind. He feigned at first, and in doing so brought it on.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)