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