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pretense

 - 3 dictionary results

pre⋅tense

  [pri-tens, pree-tens]
Use pretense in a Sentence
–noun
1. pretending or feigning; make-believe: My sleepiness was all pretense.
2. a false show of something: a pretense of friendship.
3. a piece of make-believe.
4. the act of pretending or alleging falsely.
5. a false allegation or justification: He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.
6. insincere or false profession: His pious words were mere pretense.
7. the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.
8. the claim itself.
9. any allegation or claim: to obtain money under false pretenses.
10. pretension (usually fol. by to): destitute of any pretense to wit.
11. pretentiousness.
Also, especially British, pretence.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < AF < ML *praetēnsa, n. use of fem. of praetēnsus, ptp. (r. L praetentus) of praetendere to pretend

Related forms:
pre⋅tense⋅ful, adjective
pre⋅tense⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. shamming. 2. semblance. 3. mask, veil.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pretense
pre·tense   (prē'těns', prĭ-těns')   
n.  

  1. The act of pretending; a false appearance or action intended to deceive.

  2. A false or studied show; an affectation: a pretense of nonchalance.

  3. A professed but feigned reason or excuse; a pretext: under false pretenses.

  4. Something imagined or pretended.

  5. Mere show without reality; outward appearance.

  6. A right asserted with or without foundation; a claim. See Synonyms at claim.

  7. The quality or state of being pretentious; ostentation.


[Middle English, from Old French pretensse, from Medieval Latin *praetēnsa, from Late Latin, feminine of praetēnsus, alteration of Latin praetentus, past participle of praetendere, to pretend, assert; see pretend.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pretense 
1425, "the putting forth of a claim," from M.Fr. pretensse, from fem. of L.L. prætensus, from L. prætensus, pp. of prætendere (see pretend). Meaning "false or hypocritical profession" is from 1545. Pretension is c.1600 meaning "assertion;" sense of "ostentation" is from 1727.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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