affectation
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]First attested in 1548. From Latin affectātiōnem (possibly via French affectation), from affectō (“I feign”).
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA(key): /ˌæf.ɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
Audio (US): (file) Audio (General Australian): (file) - Rhymes: -eɪʃən
Noun
[edit]affectation (countable and uncountable, plural affectations)
- An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.
- 1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets[1], Digitized edition, published 2009:
- This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ...
- 1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture I. Introductory.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. […], London: Stodart and Steuart, […]; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 2:
- [T]hey were not the spoiled children of affectation and refinement, but a bold, vigorous, independent race of thinkers, with prodigious strength and energy, with none but natural grace, and heartfelt unobtrusive delicacy.
- An unusual mannerism.
Synonyms
[edit]- (unusual mannerism): eccentricity, mannerism, airs
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real
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an unusual mannerism
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French
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]affectation f (plural affectations)
Further reading
[edit]- “affectation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Categories:
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 4-syllable words
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- Rhymes:English/eɪʃən
- Rhymes:English/eɪʃən/4 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- en:Appearance
- French 4-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with audio pronunciation
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French feminine nouns