affectation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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 ...

2. 2
   noun

   An ostentatious fondness for something.

   The grace diuineſt Mercvrie hath done me, / In this vouchſafde diſcouerie of himſelfe, / Binds my obſeruance in the vtmoſt terme / Of ſatisfaction, to his godly will: / Though I profeſſe (without the affectation / Of an enforc’d, and form’d auſteritie) / I could be willing to enioy no place / With ſo vnequall natures.

3. 3
   noun

   a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display

4. 4
   noun

   An unusual mannerism.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁k-yé-ti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Proto-Italic *adfakjō Proto-Italic *adfaktāō Latin affectō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Latin -tiō Latin affectātiōder. Middle French affectationbor. ▲ Latin affectātiōbor. English affectation From Middle French affectation and its etymon Latin affectātiōnem, from affectō (“to feign”). By surface analysis, affect + -ation.