Affectation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæf.ɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/

Definitions

1. A studied or artificial manner adopted to impress others, or an instance of pretending to have qualities, feelings, or tastes that one does not genuinely possess
2. A deliberate adoption of unnatural behavior or false qualities intended to create a deceptive impression
3. The practice of assuming an exaggerated or insincere demeanor to appear more impressive or sophisticated than one actually is

Etymology: Latin "affectare" meant to aim at, strive for, or pursue eagerly, and from it came "affectatio," the habit of reaching for an effect rather than being natural. The verb underneath it, "afficere" or "facere" in the sense of "to make" or "to act upon," is what gives the word its sense of putting on a show. In Latin, "affectatio" carried the idea of striving to produce a particular impression, which is still the heart of the modern meaning. The word reached English through Middle French "affectation," which kept that same sense of pretence. Its path is therefore a double borrowing: Latin supplied the word, and French carried it across the Channel before English adopted it. The English noun still shows the same root in "affect," meaning to pretend or put on, which is itself the verb from which the noun is built.

Synonyms: pretense, insincerity, simulated behavior, mannerism, artifice

Antonyms: authenticity, genuineness, sincerity, naturalness, truthfulness