3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pretend  \Pre*tend"\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  put  in  or  make  a  claim,  truly  or  falsely;  to  allege  a 
  title;  to  lay  claim  to  or  strive  after  something  -- 
  usually  with  to  ``Countries  that  pretend  to  freedom.'' 
  --Swift. 
 
  For  to  what  fine  he  would  anon  pretend,  That  know  I 
  well  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  To  hold  out  the  appearance  of  being  possessing,  or 
  performing;  to  profess;  to  make  believe;  to  feign;  to 
  sham;  as  to  pretend  to  be  asleep.  ``[He]  pretended  to 
  drink  the  waters.''  --Macaulay. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pretend  \Pre*tend"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Pretended};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Pretending}.]  [OE.  pretenden  to  lay  claim  to  F. 
  pr['e]tendre,  L.  praetendere  praetentum  to  stretch  forward, 
  pretend,  simulate,  assert;  prae  before  +  tendere  to  stretch. 
  See  {Tend},  v.  t.  ] 
  1.  To  lay  a  claim  to  to  allege  a  title  to  to  claim. 
 
  Chiefs  shall  be  grudged  the  part  which  they  pretend. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  To  hold  before  or  put  forward,  as  a  cloak  or  disguise  for 
  something  else;  to  exhibit  as  a  veil  for  something  hidden. 
  [R.] 
 
  Lest  that  too  heavenly  form  pretended  To  hellish 
  falsehood,  snare  them  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  hold  out  or  represent,  falsely;  to  put  forward,  or 
  offer,  as  true  or  real  (something  untrue  or  unreal);  to 
  show  hypocritically,  or  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving;  to 
  simulate;  to  feign;  as  to  pretend  friendship. 
 
  This  let  him  know  Lest,  willfully  transgressing,  he 
  pretend  Surprisal.  --Milton. 
 
  4.  To  intend;  to  design;  to  plot;  to  attempt.  [Obs.] 
 
  Such  as  shall  pretend  Malicious  practices  against 
  his  state.  --Shak. 
 
  5.  To  hold  before  one  to  extend.  [Obs.]  ``His  target  always 
  over  her  pretended.''  --Spenser. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  pretend 
  adj  :  imagined  as  in  a  play;  "the  make-believe  world  of  theater"; 
  "play  money";  "dangling  their  legs  in  the  water  to 
  catch  pretend  fish"  [syn:  {make-believe},  {play(a)}] 
  v  1:  make  believe;  "He  feigned  that  he  was  ill";  "He  shammed  a 
  headache"  [syn:  {feign},  {sham},  {affect},  {dissemble}] 
  2:  behave  unnaturally  or  affectedly;  "She's  just  acting"  [syn: 
  {dissemble},  {act}] 

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