feign

 
Pronunciation: /feɪn/

verb

[with object]
  • pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury): she feigned nervousness

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere 'mould, contrive'. Senses in Middle English (taken from Latin) included 'make something', 'invent a story, excuse, or allegation', hence 'make a pretence of a feeling or response'. Compare with fiction and figment

Spelling help

Spell feign with fei- at the beginning; the ending is -gn.