postiche

[paw-steesh, po-]

adjective

1. superadded, especially inappropriately, as a sculptural or architectural ornament.

2. artificial, counterfeit, or false.

noun

1. an imitation or substitute.

2. pretense; sham.

3. a false hairpiece.

postiche

/ pɒˈstiːʃ /

adjective

1. (of architectural ornament) inappropriately applied; sham

2. false or artificial; spurious

noun

1. another term for hairpiece

2. an imitation, counterfeit, or substitute

3. anything that is false; sham or pretence

Word History and Origins

Origin of postiche¹

1850–55; < French < Italian apposticcio < Vulgar Latin *appositīcius added to. See apposite, -itious

Word History and Origins

Origin of postiche¹

C19: from French, from Italian apposticcio (n), from Late Latin appositīcius (adj); see _apposite

Example Sentences

Today, polite society most often softens references to wigs with such euphemisms as “hair covering” or “hairpiece,” eschewing the historic terms “toupee” and “postiche.”

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"No," said Lady Catchpole; "anything false which is well made up we call a postiche; it need not be exactly a wig."

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Fastidiousness, at any rate, is very good postiche for modesty: it is always decent, it can never be coarse.

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We have made a great succ�s by means of postiche—there is no denying it.

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Now in this case, for instance, he is using convictions—postiche convictions certainly—to get Bodwinkle into Parliament; the result of my convictions is, that if I express them they will turn me out.

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Related Words

• hairpiece