Feign

Pronunciation

• IPA: /feɪn/
• Rhymes: -eɪn
• Homophones: fane, fain archaic

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French feindre ("to pretend"), from Latin fingere ("to form, shape, invent").

Full definition of feign

Verb

1. To make a false copy or version of; to counterfeit.The pupil feigned sickness on the day of his exam.They feigned her signature on the cheque.
2. To imagine; to invent; to pretend.He feigned that he had gone home at the appointed time.
3. To make an action as if doing one thing, but actually doing another, for example to trick an opponent.
• 2013, Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert's debut goal gives England victory over Scotland (in The Guardian, 14 August 2013)http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendlyCahill was beaten far too easily for Miller's goal, although the striker deserves the credit for the way he controlled Alan Hutton's right-wing delivery, with his back to goal, feigned to his left then went the other way and pinged a splendid left-foot shot into Hart's bottom right-hand corner.
4. To hide or conceal.Jessica feigned the fact that she had not done her homework.

Synonyms

• (represent by a false appearance) front, put on airs