feign
feign [feign feigns feigned feigning] BrE [feɪn] NAmE [feɪn] verb ~ sth | ~ to do sth (formal)
to pretend that you have a particular feeling or that you are ill/sick, tired, etc
•He survived the massacre by feigning death.
•‘Who cares?’ said Alex, feigning indifference.
•‘A present for me?’ she asked with feigned surprise.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere ‘mould, contrive’. Senses in Middle English (taken from Latin) included ‘make something’, ‘invent a story, excuse, or allegation’, hence ‘make a pretence of a feeling or response’. Compare with ↑fiction and ↑figment.
Example Bank:
•She feigned sleep to avoid having to answer.
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