[false] adj fals.er ; fals.est [ME fals, fr. OF & L; OF, fr. L falsus, fr. pp. of fallere to deceive] (12c) 1: not genuine "~ documents" "~ teeth"
2. a: intentionally untrue "~ testimony" b: adjusted or made so as to deceive "~ scales" "a trunk with a ~ bottom" c: intended or tending to mislead "a ~ promise"
3: not true "~ concepts"
4. a: not faithful or loyal: treacherous "a ~ friend" b: lacking naturalness or sincerity "~ 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 ~ ceiling"
6: inaccurate in pitch "a ~ note"
7. a: based on mistaken ideas "~ pride" b: inconsistent with the facts "a ~ position" "a ~ sense of security" 8: threateningly sudden or deceptive "don't make a ~ move" syn see faithless -- false.ly adv -- false.ness n
[2]false adv (13c): in a false or faithless manner: treacherously "his friends played him ~"