feign

Everyday

1. To pretend to feel something or to be ill, tired or asleep when you are not. tree →
2. To feign can also mean to pretend not to know something. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it tells the reader that a character is acting, not truly feeling: «she feigned sleep». Animals can feign death to escape danger. Phrases: feign illness, feign surprise, feign interest, feign sleep.

Examples

• Tom feigned a headache so he would not have to go swimming. tree →
• The possum feigned death to trick the dog. tree →
• She feigned surprise, but she already knew about the party. tree →
• He feigned interest in his aunt's holiday photos. tree →
• The cat feigned sleep while watching the mouse. tree →
• Don't feign illness; tell the truth about the test. tree →
• Him also the Yaga attempts to destroy, but he feigns ignorance, and persuades her to show him how to tie knots and to blow. tree →

Note

Pronounced like «fain» — the g is silent. Spelling: ei. Homophone: «feint» (a fake move in sport) sounds almost the same and is related. A slightly formal word; in speech people say «pretend».

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Nehemiah rejects accusations that his enemies invented out of their own hearts. In the primary lessons: In stories it tells the reader that a character is acting, not truly feeling: «she feigned sleep». Animals can feign death to escape danger. Phrases: feign illness, feign surprise, feign interest, feign sleep.

Examples

• Then I sent unto him, saying: 'There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.' (Writings NEH.6.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced like «fain» — the g is silent. Spelling: ei. Homophone: «feint» (a fake move in sport) sounds almost the same and is related. A slightly formal word; in speech people say «pretend».