falseheart

plural falsehearts

1. countableuncountablebusinessWood that gives an erroneous impression of being heartwood.

   Sometimes, because of the invasion of germs into the heart part, the brown or tawny falseheart with irregular figure appears.

   1995, Shuming Wu, Wood Anatomy Research

   1 more example

   Fungi break down the wood inwards from lopping wounds, causing white or brown rot. It occurs faster in old wood and wood no longer needed by the tree (depending on species and whether heartwood or falseheart is present).

   1995, L Wessoly, Fracture diagnosis of trees

2. archaiccountableuncountableInsincerity or disloyalty, or a person who is insincere and disloyal.

   I know her thoroughly; I have studied her thoroughly; I have looked into her falseheart. Nobody has discovered her but me.

   1883, Wilkie Collins, Heart and Science: A Story of the Present Time - Volume 1, page 178

   2 more examples

   Slay the craven falsehearts, who speak lies for truth to give the dishonest measure of a false balance for the even, well-pressed measure of clearness, cleanness and righteousness.

   1896, James Willway Treadwell, California Banker's Magazine: Commercial and Real Estate Review

   Her deceitful words here will be directly echoed, but with the negative switched to positive, by the lovers' beating hearts at the film's end. For the moment the falseheart counterpoint prevails, exemplified by Dominique's insincere response

   1992, Romance Languages Annual: RLA. - Volume 4, page 109

1. not comparableobsoleteSynonym of false-hearted.

   I am thy king, and thou a falseheart traitor.

   1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2

   1 more example

   Be but true to me—and I see y' are true—and betwixt you and me we shall bring that falseheart traitor to the death.

   1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Black Arrow: A tale of two roses

   Synonyms: false-hearted