Feign v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feigned p. pr. & vb. n. Feigning.]
1. To give a mental existence to, as to something not real or actual; to imagine; to invent; hence, to pretend; to form and relate as if true.
There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. --Neh. vi. 8.
The poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. --Shak.
2. To represent by a false appearance of; to pretend; to counterfeit; as, to feign a sickness.
3. To dissemble; to conceal. [Obs.]
◄ ►
Feign·ing, a. That feigns; insincere; not genuine; false.
-- Feign*ing*ly, adv.
◄ ►
feigning
n 1: pretending with intention to deceive [syn: pretense, pretence,
dissembling]
2: the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was
only pretending" [syn: pretense, pretence, pretending,
simulation]