affectation

Etymology

First attested in 1548. From Latin affectātiōnem (possibly via French affectation), from affectō (“I feign”).

noun

  1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.
    This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ... 1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets, Digitized edition, published 2009
  2. An unusual mannerism.

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