affectations

Noun

affectation (countable and uncountable, plural affectations)

1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.
   • This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ...1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets, Digitized edition, published 2009
2. An unusual mannerism.

   Synonyms:

   eccentricity, mannerism, airs

3. (rare, with-of) An ostentatious fondness for something.
   • The grace diuineſt Mercvrie hath done me, / In this vouchſafde diſcouerie of himſelfe, / Binds my obſeruance in the vtmoſt terme / Of ſatisfaction, to his godly will: / Though I profeſſe (without the affectation / Of an enforc’d, and form’d auſteritie) / I could be willing to enioy no place / With...1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby...