Pretend Definition
prĭ-tĕnd
pretended, pretending, pretends
verb
pretended, pretending, pretends
To claim or profess falsely; feign; simulate.
To pretend anger.
Webster's New World
To claim; profess; allege.
To pretend ignorance of the law.
Webster's New World
To make believe, as in children's play.
To pretend to be astronauts.
Webster's New World
To lay claim.
To pretend to a throne.
Webster's New World
To make believe in play or in an attempt to deceive; feign.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
- be honest
- tell truth
adjective
Make-believe.
Pretend jewelry.
Webster's New World
Origin of Pretend
-
From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand")), from Latin praetendere, present active infinitive of praetendō (“put forward, hold out, pretend"), from prae- (“pre-") + tendō (“stretch"); see tend.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English pretenden from Old French pretendre from Latin praetendere prae- pre- tendere to extend ten- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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