make-believe
See also: makebelieve and make believe
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Deverbal from make believe.
Noun
make-believe (countable and uncountable, plural make-believes) (sometimes childish)
- (uncountable) The quality or act of pretending; acting as if something is true when in fact one knows it is not.
- (uncountable) The condition of pretending or imagining that things are better than they really are.
- (countable) Something imaginary.
- 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:
- ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marjorie Lindon, to even think such nonsense. Are you all nerves and morbid imaginings,—you who have prided yourself on being so strong-minded! A pretty sort you are to do battle for anyone.—Why, they’re only make-believes!’
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.