FALSE


Meaning of FALSE in English

I. ˈfȯls adjective

( 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

II. adverb

Date: 13th century

: in a false or faithless manner : treacherously

his friends played him false

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.