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hypocrisy

hypocrisy definition

hy·poc·risy (hi päk′rə sē)

noun pl. hypocrisies -·sies

a pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; esp., a pretense of virtue, piety, etc.

Etymology: ME ipocrisie < OFr < L hypocrisis, mimicry (in LL(Ec), pretended sanctity) < Gr hypokrisis, acting a part (in LXX and N.T., hypocrisy) < hypokrinesthai, to play a part < hypo-, hypo- + krinesthai, to dispute < krinein, to separate: see harvest

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