[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That feigns.
† 1. Given to inventing; imaginative. Obs.
1483. Cath. Angl., 125/1. Feynynge, ficticiosus.
1600. Shaks., As You Like It, III. iii. 20. The truest poetrie is the most faining, and Louers are giuen to Poetrie: and what they sweare in Poetrie, may be said as Louers, they do feigne.
2. Dissembling, deceitful.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 966.
| And he as wee full of worship welcomed hom all | |
| With a faynyng fare vnder faire chere. |
a. 1569. Kingsmill, A Viewe of Mans Estate, i. (1580), 8. Those fainyng folke.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 31. Verses of faining loue.
1701. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., IV. iii.
| Rather, suspect this feigning Boy his Instrument, | |
| To plunge us deeper yet, if possible | |
| In Misery. |
† 3. Shirking, cowardly. Obs. Cf. FEIGN v. 13.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4576.
| Þis fenyond fare is forthoryng to hom, | |
| To assemble on yche syde souldiours ynogh. |
† 4. Of the voice: see FEIGN v. 12. Obs.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 31.
| Thou hast by Moone-light at her window sung, | |
| With faining voice, verses of faining love. |
5. quasi-adv. Pretendedly, seemingly.
1620. Quarles, Jonah (1638), 11. How faining deafe is he?
Hence Feigningly adv., in a feigning manner; artfully, dissemblingly.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 375. Þe ordre of tellynge of þe þing … is feynyngliche i-tolde.
c. 1422. Hoccleve, Learn to Die, 358.
| But he þat late to penance him takith, | |
| Whethir he verraily or feynyngly | |
| Repente he noot vncertain it him makith. |
c. 1500. Melusine, 28. All this said she feynyngly to thende that the other shuld nat perceyue to what thinge she tended.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, Zz iij b. To sett out her beawtye … as feininglye as she can.
1605. Stow, Ann. West Saxons, an. 1011. Peace … to the which they feininglie assented.
1650. S. Clarke, Eccl. Hist. (1654), 542. The King feigningly complained that since the death of Cromwel, England was much troubled with hereticall factions and parties, that it was to be feared, that if these wranglings about religion were nourished, more grievous mischiefs and civill wars would arise.
