/af'ek tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. an effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed; the pretense of actual possession: an affectation of interest in art; affectation of great wealth.
2. conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.
3. a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality: a man of a thousand affectations.
4. Obs.
a. strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.
b. affection; fondness: his affectation of literature.
[ 1540-50; affectation- (s. of affectatio ) a striving after, equiv. to affectat ( us ), ptp. of affectare to AFFECT 2 (see -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 2. pretension, airs, mannerisms, pose.
Ant. 2. artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.