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

Related forms

hyp·o·crit·i·cal, adjective

su·per·hyp·o·crite, noun

Synonyms
deceiver, dissembler, pretender, pharisee.

 

Dictionary.com Unabridged

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

Word of the Day: Hypocrite