Hy̆p'o-crĭte, n.
n. [Fr. hypocrite, Lat. hypocrita, Gr. ὑποκριτής, one who plays a part on the stage, a dissembler, feigner; Sp. & Pg. hipocrita, It. ipocrita, Pr. ypocrita. See supra.]
Sense 1. A dissembler; one who assumes a false appearance.
Fair hypocrite, you seek to cheat in vain. Dryden.
Sense 2. One who feigns to be other and better than he really is; one who, for the purpose of deceiving, or of winning favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue.
And the hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. 13.
Synonyms—Dissembler; deceiver; pretender; cheat. See DISSEMBLER.