feigned
UK[feɪnd]US[feɪnd]
adj
not genuine; pretended or simulated.
Morpheme Breakdown
feign
ed
feign
to pretend
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'feigned' originates from the latin verb fingere, which carried the dual meanings of 'to shape or form' and 'to contrive or devise.' this semantic duality passed through old french feindre, meaning 'to pretend or shirk,' into middle english. the addition of the adjectival suffix '-ed' transforms the past action of pretending into a descriptive state. thus, the modern term 'feigned' logically evolves from the ancient concept of 'shaping' an idea or story into its current meaning of something artificially formed or pretended.
Analysis
Structure: feign (to pretend) + ed (adjective suffix)
feign (from middle english feinen, from old french feindre, from latin fingere meaning 'to shape, form, devise, pretend'); ed (a suffix forming adjectives from verbs, indicating a state or condition, from old english -ed, -od, -ad).
Examples
she responded with feigned enthusiasm to the tedious proposal.
his feigned ignorance of the rules did not convince the teacher.
the apology sounded feigned and insincere.