false
noun
- response of untruth
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L333741 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- truth value
- not genuine
- intentionally untrue
- not true
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /fɔːls/ / /fɒls/ / /fɔls/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from Latin falsō (“falsify”), itself also from falsus; compare French fausser (“to falsify, to distort”).
- Untrue, not factual, factually incorrect.
“Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber.”
- Based on factually incorrect premises.
“false legislation, false punishment”
- Spurious, artificial.
“false teeth”
“At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.”
- Of a state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result.
- Uttering falsehood; dishonest or deceitful.
“a false witness”
- Not faithful or loyal, as to obligations, allegiance, vows, etc.; untrue; treacherous.
“a false friend, lover, or subject; false to promises”
“I to my ſelf was falſe, e’re thou to me,[…]”
- Not well founded; not firm or trustworthy; erroneous.
“a false conclusion; a false construction in grammar”
“So downe he fell, as an huge rockie clift, / Whoſe falſe foundacion waues haue waſht away,[…]”
- Not essential or permanent, as parts of a structure which are temporary or supplemental.
- Used in the vernacular name of a species (or group of species) together with the name of another species to which it is similar in appearance.
“false scorpion (an arachnid)”
“false killer whale (a dolphin)”
- Out of tune.
adv
Etymology: From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from Latin falsō (“falsify”), itself also from falsus; compare French fausser (“to falsify, to distort”).
- In a dishonest and disloyal way; falsely.
“Sweet Lord, you play me falſe.”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from Latin falsō (“falsify”), itself also from falsus; compare French fausser (“to falsify, to distort”).
- One of two options on a true-or-false test, that not representing true.
“The student received a failing grade for circling every true and false on her quiz.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English false, fals, from Old English fals (“false; counterfeit; fraudulent; wrong; mistaken”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman and Old French fals, faus. Compare Scots fals, false, Saterland Frisian falsk, German falsch, Dutch vals, Swedish and Danish falsk; all from Latin falsus. Displaced native Middle English les, lese, from Old English lēas (“false”); See lease, leasing. Doublet of faux. The verb is from Middle English falsen, falsien, from Old French falser, from Latin falsō (“falsify”), itself also from falsus; compare French fausser (“to falsify, to distort”).
- To incorrectly decode noise as if it were a valid signal.
- To begin a race before being instructed to do so; to do a false start.
“Records have been broken, races have been dedicated, dreams have been dreamed, starts have been falsed and nouns have been verbed.”
- To violate, to betray (a promise, an agreement, one’s faith, etc.).
“And he that could with giftes and promiſes, Inueigle him that lead a thouſand horſe, And make him falſe his faith vnto his King, Will quickly win ſuch as be like himſelfe.”
- To counterfeit, to forge.
- To make false, to corrupt from something true or real.