Hypertext Webster Gateway: "affectation"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Affectation \Af`fec*ta"tion\, n. [L. affectatio: cf. F.
affectation.]
1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or
real; false display; artificial show. ``An affectation of
contempt.'' --Macaulay.
Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of
what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty
that accompanies what is natural what is natural.
--Locke.
2. A striving after. [Obs.] --Bp. Pearson.
3. Fondness; affection. [Obs.] --Hooker.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
affectation
n : a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display [syn: {mannerism},
{pose}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.