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pretending |
2 definitions found 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]: pretending n : the act of pretending [syn: {pretense}, {pretence}, {simulation}, {feigning}]
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