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Webster's New World College Dictionary » pretense
pretense
pretense definition
pre·tense (prē tens′, pri-; prē′tens′)
noun
- a claim, esp. an unsupported one, as to some distinction or accomplishment; pretension
- a false claim or profession
- a false show of something
- a pretending, as at play; make-believe
- a false reason or plea; pretext
- Rare aim; intention
- pretentiousness; ostentation
- a pretentious act or remark
Etymology: ME < Anglo-Fr pretensse < ML *pretensa < praetensus, alleged < pp. of L praetendere: see pretend
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