affectation

From Middle French affectation and its etymon Latin affectātiōnem, from affectō (“I feign”). By surface analysis, affect +‎ -ation.

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˌæf.ɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

affectation (countable and uncountable, plural affectations)

1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.
   • 1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets‎, Digitized edition, published 2009:

     This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ...

   • 1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture I. Introductory.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. , London: Stodart and Steuart, ; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 2:

     hey were not the spoiled children of affectation and refinement, but a bold, vigorous, independent race of thinkers, with prodigious strength and energy, with none but natural grace, and heartfelt unobtrusive delicacy.

2. An unusual mannerism.
3. (with of, now somewhat rare) An ostentatious fondness for something.
   • 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson , “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. ”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: Will Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 235:

     The grace diuineſt Mercvrie hath done me, / In this vouchſafde diſcouerie of himſelfe, / Binds my obſeruance in the vtmoſt terme / Of ſatisfaction, to his godly will: / Though I profeſſe (without the affectation / Of an enforc’d, and form’d auſteritie) / I could be willing to enioy no place / With ſo vnequall natures.

   • 1687, , “”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: Jacob Tonson , →OCLC, pages 22–23:

     Her upper part of decent diſcipline / Shew’d affecation of an ancient line: / And fathers, councils, church and churches head, / Were on her reverend Phylacteries read.

   • 2004, Wendy Ayres-Bennett, “Women’s ‘ignorance’”, in Sociolinguistic Variation in Seventeenth-Century France: Methodology and Case Studies, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Women’s language), , page 121:

     While for some, women’s lack of knowledge is a matter for censure, throughout the century both male and female writers emphasize that affectation of knowledge, for example when it is not properly assimilated (Du Bosc 1633: 78), and above all pedantry from women, are far more unacceptable.

• (unusual mannerism): eccentricity, mannerism, airs

• IPA^(key): /a.fɛk.ta.sjɔ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

affectation f (plural affectations)

1. allocation, allotment
2. assignment
3. posting
4. affectation

• “affectation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.