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