false

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   arising from error

   a false assumption

2. 2
   adj

   inaccurate in pitch

   a false (or sour) note

3. 3
   adj

   designed to deceive

   a suitcase with a false bottom

4. 4
   adj

   deliberately deceptive

   false pretenses

5. 5
   adj

   not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

   gave false testimony under oath

6. 6
   adj

   erroneous and usually accidental

   a false start

7. 7
   adj

   Untrue, not factual, factually incorrect.

   Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber.

8. 8
   adj

   Based on factually incorrect premises.

   false legislation, false punishment

Etymology

From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from…