affectation

plural affectations

1. countableuncountableAn attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.First known use 1548

   This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ...

   1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets, Digitized edition, published 2009

   1 more example

   [T]hey were not the spoiled children of affectation and refinement, but a bold, vigorous, independent race of thinkers, with prodigious strength and energy, with none but natural grace, and heartfelt unobtrusive delicacy.

   1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture I. Introductory.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. […], London: Stodart and Steuart, […]; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 2

2. countableuncountableAn unusual mannerism.

   Synonyms: eccentricity, mannerism, airs

3. countablerareuncountablewith ofAn ostentatious fondness for something.First known use 1542

   Her upper part of decent diſcipline / Shew’d affecation of an ancient line: / And fathers, councils, church and churches head, / Were on her reverend Phylacteries read.

   1687, [John Dryden], “[The First Part]”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, pages 22–23

   2 more examples

   The grace diuineſt Mercvrie hath done me, / In this vouchſafde diſcouerie of himſelfe, / Binds my obſeruance in the vtmoſt terme / Of ſatisfaction, to his godly will: / Though I profeſſe (without the affectation / Of an enforc’d, and form’d auſteritie) / I could be willing to enioy no place / With ſo vnequall natures.

   1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 235

   While for some, women’s lack of knowledge is a matter for censure, throughout the century both male and female writers emphasize that affectation of knowledge, for example when it is not properly assimilated (Du Bosc 1633: 78), and above all pedantry from women, are far more unacceptable.

   2004, Wendy Ayres-Bennett, “Women’s ‘ignorance’”, in Sociolinguistic Variation in Seventeenth-Century France: Methodology and Case Studies, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Women’s language), […], page 121