GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Sham (shăm), n. [Originally the same word as shame, hence, a disgrace, a trick. See Shame, n.]
   1. That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that deludes and disappoints; a make-believe; delusion; imposture; humbug. “A mere sham.”  Bp. Stillingfleet.
   
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   Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. Addison.
   
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   2. A false front, or removable ornamental covering.
   
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   Pillow sham, a covering to be laid on a pillow.
   
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2.       
   Sham, a. False; counterfeit; pretended; feigned; unreal; as, “a sham fight”.
   
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   They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians. Jowett (Thucyd)
   
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3.       
   Sham, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shammed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shamming.]
   1. To trick; to cheat; to deceive or delude with false pretenses.
   
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   Fooled and shammed into a conviction. L'Estrange.
   
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   2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition. [R.]
   
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   We must have a care that we do not . . . sham fallacies upon the world for current reason. L'Estrange.
   
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   3. To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to feign.
   
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   To sham Abram or To sham Abraham, to feign sickness; to malinger. Hence a malingerer is called, in sailors' cant, Sham Abram, or Sham Abraham.
   
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4.       
   Sham, v. i. To make false pretenses; to deceive; to feign; to impose.
   
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   Wondering . . . whether those who lectured him were such fools as they professed to be, or were only shamming. Macaulay.
   
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