Dictionary — ontologydriven

make-believe en · ADJ

Deverbal from make believe.

(childish, sometimes) Imaginary; not real; pretend.
- He called himself Lord So-and-So, even had his family crest on the wall, but it was all totally make-believe.

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makebelieve		alternative	lexicographic
make believe		alternative	lexicographic

Deverbal from make believe.

(childish, sometimes, uncountable) The quality or act of pretending; acting as if something is true when in fact one knows it is not.
- Come on, come on, I go up and down / I like this curious feeling / I know, I see, it's like make believe / Cover your ears so you can hear what I'm saying 1985, “The Lady Don't Mind”, in Little Creatures, performed by Talking Heads:
(childish, sometimes, uncountable) The condition of pretending or imagining that things are better than they really are.
(childish, countable, sometimes) Something imaginary.
- ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marjorie Lindon, to even think such nonsense. Are you all nerves and morbid imaginings,—you who have prided yourself on being so strong-minded! A pretty sort you are to do battle for anyone.—Why, they’re only make-believes!’ 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

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make believe		alternative	lexicographic
makebelieve		alternative	lexicographic
make-believes	Number=Plur		lexicographic