fictitious

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The Word of the Day for January 12 is:

fictitious   \fik-TISH-us\   adjective
     1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of fiction : imaginary
     2 a : conventionally or hypothetically assumed or accepted  *b of a name : 
false, assumed
     3 : not genuinely felt

Example sentence:
     Although the television series is based on real criminal cases, fictitious 
names are used to protect the privacy of the people who were actually involved.

Did you know?
     "Fictitious" is related to the Latin word "ficticius," meaning 
"artificial" or "feigned." It was first used in English as an antonym for 
"natural." For instance, a fake diamond would be referred to as a fictitious 
one. This use indicates the word's deeper Latin roots. "Ficticius" is from 
Latin "fingere," meaning "to shape, form, or devise." Nowadays, "fictitious" is 
no longer used for physical things shaped by the human hand. Rather, it is 
typically used for imaginative creations or for feigned emotions.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.






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