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noun
1.
an effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed; the pretense of actual possession: an affectation of interest in art; affectation of great wealth.
2.
conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.
3.
a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality: a man of a thousand affectations.
4.
Obsolete.
a.
strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.
b.
affection; fondness: his affectation of literature.
Origin:
1540–50; < Latin affectātiōn- (stem of affectātiō) a striving after, equivalent to affectāt(us), past participle of affectāre to affect2 (see -ate1) + -iōn- -ion
1540–50; < Latin affectātiōn- (stem of affectātiō) a striving after, equivalent to affectāt(us), past participle of affectāre to affect2 (see -ate1) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
non·af·fec·ta·tion, noun
Synonyms
2. pretension, airs, mannerisms, pose.
2. pretension, airs, mannerisms, pose.
Antonyms
2. artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.
2. artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Affectation
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Example Sentences
- Uggams as a show-biz trouper with sawdust in her blood is no affectation.
- Affectation of subliteracy doesn't excuse this sort of crap.
- The affectation for authenticity that reviewers flattered themselves for wanting does not stand above the character on the screen.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
affectation
1540s, "studied display," from L. affectationem (nom. affectatio) "a striving after," from affectare "to strive for" (see affect (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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