[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/feign/)

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# feign

verb (feign, feigns, feigned, feigning)

«feign» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To pretend to feel something or to be ill, tired or asleep when you are not. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#m1)
2. To feign can also mean to pretend not to know something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories it tells the reader that a character is acting, not truly feeling: «she feigned sleep». Animals can feign death to escape danger. Phrases: feign illness, feign surprise, feign interest, feign sleep.

### Examples

- Tom feigned a headache so he would not have to go swimming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x1)
- The possum feigned death to trick the dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x2)
- She feigned surprise, but she already knew about the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x3)
- He feigned interest in his aunt's holiday photos. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x4)
- The cat feigned sleep while watching the mouse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x5)
- Don't feign illness; tell the truth about the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x6)
- Him also the Yaga attempts to destroy, but he feigns ignorance, and persuades her to show him how to tie knots and to blow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/#x7)

### Note

Pronounced like «fain» — the g is silent. Spelling: ei. Homophone: «feint» (a fake move in sport) sounds almost the same and is related. A slightly formal word; in speech people say «pretend».

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Nehemiah rejects accusations that his enemies invented out of their own hearts. In the primary lessons: In stories it tells the reader that a character is acting, not truly feeling: «she feigned sleep». Animals can feign death to escape danger. Phrases: feign illness, feign surprise, feign interest, feign sleep.

### Examples

- Then I sent unto him, saying: 'There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.' (Writings NEH.6.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feign/#x1)

### Note

Pronounced like «fain» — the g is silent. Spelling: ei. Homophone: «feint» (a fake move in sport) sounds almost the same and is related. A slightly formal word; in speech people say «pretend».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «feign» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/feign/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«feign» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/feign.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «feign» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feign/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«feign» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/feign.html) on Mova free.