(adj) artificially formal, Syn. contrived, hokey, stilted, Example:that artificial humility that her husband hated; contrived coyness; a stilted letter of acknowledgment; when people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
a. Elevated as if on stilts; hence, pompous; bombastic; as, a stilted style; stilted declamation. [ 1913 Webster ]
Stilted arch (Arch.), an arch in which the springing line is some distance above the impost, the space between being occupied by a vertical member, molded or ornamented, as a continuation of the archivolt, intrados, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]