Word of the Day: Hypocrite

Hypocrite:  noun Grammar .

1.

a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
2.

a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English ipocrite  < Old French  < Late Latin hypocrita  < Greek hypokritḗs  a stage actor, hence one who pretends to be what he is not, equivalent to hypokrī́ ( nesthai ) (see hypocrisy) + -tēs  agent suffix

hyp·o·crit·i·cal, adjective
su·per·hyp·o·crite, noun


deceiver, dissembler, pretender, pharisee.
 
Dictionary.com Unabridged

Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
 
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