2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Pretense \Pre*tense"\, Pretence \Pre*tence\, n. [LL. praetensus
for L. praetentus p. p. of praetendere See {Pretend}, and
cf {Tension}.]
1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption;
pretension. --Spenser.
Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right
of solely inheriting property or power. --Locke.
I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to
the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford. --Evelyn.
2. The act of holding out or offering, to others something
false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or
hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and
concealing what is real; false show simulation; as
pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on
pretense of revenging C[ae]sar's death.
3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical
show argument, or reason; pretext; feint.
Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of
proffered peace, delude the Latian prince. --Dryden.
4. Intention; design. [Obs.]
A very pretense and purpose of unkindness. --Shak.
Note: See the {Note} under {Offense}.
Syn: Mask; appearance; color; show pretext; excuse.
Usage: {Pretense}, {Pretext}. A pretense is something held
out as real when it is not so thus falsifying the
truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to
cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or
reasons. Pretext is often but not always used in a
bad sense
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
pretense
n 1: the act of pretending [syn: {pretence}, {pretending}, {simulation},
{feigning}]
2: pretending with intention to deceive [syn: {feigning}, {dissembling}]
3: an imaginative pretence [syn: {make-believe}]
4: a false or unsupportable quality [syn: {pretension}, {pretence}]
more about pretense
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