Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for FEIGN
FEIGN, v.t. [fane; Fr. feindre; Sp. fingir; It. fingere, or fignere; L. fingo; D. veinzen; Arm. feinta, fincha. The Latin forms fictum, fictus, whence figura, figure. Hence it agrees with W. fugiaw, to feign or dissemble; fug, feint, disguise; also L. fucus.]
- To invent or imagine; to form an idea or conception of something not real. There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thy own heart. Neh. vi.
- To make a show of; to pretend; to assume a false appearance; to counterfeit. I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner. 2 Sam. xiv. She feigns laugh. Pope.
- To represent falsely; to pretend; to form and relate s fictitious tale. The poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. Shak.
- To dissemble; to conceal. [Obs.] Spenser.
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