affectation en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Latin faciō Latin afficiō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin affectō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō 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.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) 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:[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.
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:
- (countable, uncountable) An unusual mannerism.
-
(countable, rare, uncountable, with-of) 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.
1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 235:While for some, women’s lack of knowledge is a matter for censure, throughout the century both male and female writers emphasize that affectation of knowledge, for example when it is not properly assimilated (Du Bosc 1633: 78), and above all pedantry from women, are far more unacceptable.
2004, Wendy Ayres-Bennett, “Women’s ‘ignorance’”, in Sociolinguistic Variation in Seventeenth-Century France: Methodology and Case Studies, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Women’s language), […], page 121:Her upper part of decent diſcipline / Shew’d affecation of an ancient line: / And fathers, councils, church and churches head, / Were on her reverend Phylacteries read.
1687, [John Dryden], “[The First Part]”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, pages 22–23:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| affectations | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
affectational · affectationist
Relateds
affectionate · affective · affectatious · affection · affecter · affect
Synonyms
airs (unusual mannerism) · eccentricity (unusual mannerism) · mannerism (unusual mannerism)
Translations (33)
el νάζι (an unusual mannerism) · sv sjåser (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · pl afektacja (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ko 가장 (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ru неесте́ственность (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ko 꾸밈 (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · pt afetação (an unusual mannerism) · pt afetação (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · fr affectation (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · is tildur (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · de Geschraubtheit (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · da affektation (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · cmn 假裝 /假装 (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ru притво́рство (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · fi maneeri (an unusual mannerism) · fi teeskentely (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · is tilgerð (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · sv choser (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · bg преструване (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · bg превземане (an unusual mannerism) · ru мане́рность (an unusual mannerism) · fr affectation (an unusual mannerism) · ja 気取り (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ja 虚飾 (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ar تَكَلُّف (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · da krukkeri (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · es afectación (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · eo afektaĵo (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ko 허식 (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · sv tillgjordhet (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · cmn 做作 (an unusual mannerism) · ar تَصَنُّع (an attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real) · ru неесте́ственность (an unusual mannerism)