falseness

Main Entry:: ¹false
Pronunciation:: \ˈfȯls\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: fals·er; fals·est
Etymology:: Middle English fals, faus, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin falsus, from past participle of fallere to deceive
Date:: 12th century

1: not genuine <false documents> <false teeth>2 a: intentionally untrue <false testimony> b: adjusted or made so as to deceive <false scales> <a trunk with a false bottom> c: intended or tending to mislead <a false promise>3: not true <false concepts>4 a: not faithful or loyal : treacherous <a false friend> b: lacking naturalness or sincerity <false sympathy>5 a: not essential or permanent —used of parts of a structure that are temporary or supplemental b: fitting over a main part to strengthen it, to protect it, or to disguise its appearance <a false ceiling>6: inaccurate in pitch <a false note>7 a: based on mistaken ideas <false pride> b: inconsistent with the facts <a false position> <a false sense of security>8: threateningly sudden or deceptive <don't make any false moves>

synonyms see faithless

— false·ly adverb

— false·ness noun

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