SHAM, noun That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud or device that deludes and disappoints; delusion; imposture. [Not an elegant word.] Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. Addison. SHAM, adjective False; counterfeit; pretended; as a sham fight. SHAM, verb transitive 1. To deceive expectation; to trick to cheat; to delude with false pretenses. They find themselves fooled and shammed into conviction. [Not elegant.] L'Estrange. 2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition. SHAM, verb intransitive To make mocks.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI