Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sham?

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