Question

Study the following dictionary entry.

coun•ter•feit ('kaun-ter-fit) 1. to make a false copy, simulate 2. to pretend, feign 3. archaic to disguise 4. archaic emulate
Based on its context in line 43 of "The Pardoner's Prologue", the word counterfeit most likely means
Select one:
a. feign.
b. simulate.
c. disguise.
d. emulate.

Answer 1

The word 'counterfeit' in 'The Pardoner's Prologue' most likely means to make a false copy or simulate, as it coincides with the Pardoner's act of creating fake relics in Chaucer's narrative.

Step-by-step explanation:

In The Pardoner's Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer, when the term counterfeit is used, it is likely within the context of artifice or deceit as performed by the Pardoner in the tale.

Based on the definitions provided and the usage in medieval literature, the best fit for this context is option b. simulate, meaning to make a false copy or imitation. Options a. feign and d. emulate could also be congruent within different contexts, but simulate directly involves the making of a false copy, aligning closely with the Pardoner's actions in the narrative of feigning relics and indulgences as supposed holy objects.

In line 43 of ''The Pardoner's Prologue'', the word 'counterfeit' most likely means simulate. In this context, the word suggests the act of making a false copy or imitating something. The speaker is pretending to be something they are not.