Shăm1, n.
n. [See infra.] That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that deludes and disappoints; delusion; imposture; feint; humbug. Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. Addison.
4 entries under this word
Sham
Shăm2, a.
a. [Cf. Icel. skammr, O. H. Ger. scamm, short, skemmi, shortness, skemman, to shorten; Icel. skemma, to shorten, corrupt; Prov. Ger. schem, schemen, delusive appearance, phantom. Cf. SHAME.] False; counterfeit; pretended; as, a sham fight.
Shăm3, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. SHAMMED; p. pr. & vb. n. SHAMMING.] [See supra.]
Sense 1. To deceive expectation; to trick; to cheat; to delude with false pretenses.
They find themselves fooled and shammed into conviction. L'Estrange.
Sense 2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition.
We must have a care that we do not . . . sham fallacies upon the world for current reason. L'Estrange.
Sense 3. To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape.
To sham Abraham, to feign sickness or infirmity. See ABRAHAM-MAN. Goldsmith.
Shăm4, v. i.
v. i. To make false pretences; to deceive; to feign; to impose.
Wondering within himself whether those who lectured him were such fools as they professed to be, or were only shamming. Macaulay.