To pretend is defined as to claim, to make believe or imitate.
(verb)See pretend in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
Origin: ME pretenden, to intend < MFr pretendre < L praetendere, to hold forth, allege < prae-, before + tendere, to stretch: see thin
intransitive verb
adjective
See pretend in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb pre·tend·ed, pre·tend·ing, pre·tends verb, transitive
Origin:
Origin: Middle English pretenden
Origin: , from Old French pretendre
Origin: , from Latin praetendere
Origin: : prae-, pre-
Origin: + tendere, to extend; see ten- in Indo-European roots
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