Pretense Definition & Meaning | Bay Area Crosswords

About The Word Pretense

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Pretense

Pretense Definition And Meaning
What's The Definition Of Pretense? [n] the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending" [n] an artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them" [n] a false or unsupportable quality [n] imaginative intellectual play [n] pretending with intention to deceive Synonyms \| Synonyms for Pretense: dissembling \| feigning \| feigning \| guise \| make-believe \| pretence \| pretence \| pretence \| pretence \| pretending \| pretension \| pretext \| simulation Related Terms \| Find terms related to Pretense: See Also \| affectation \| appearance \| artificiality \| bluff \| color \| colour \| deceit \| deceit \| deception \| deception \| dissembling \| dissimulation \| hypocrisy \| imagery \| imagination \| imaging \| lip service \| make-believe \| mannerism \| masquerade \| mental imagery \| misrepresentation \| pose \| pretext \| semblance \| show \| stalking-horse Pretense In Webster's Dictionary \Pretense"\, Pretence \Pretence\, 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.

Pretense Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Pretense?

[n] the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending"
[n] an artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"
[n] a false or unsupportable quality
[n] imaginative intellectual play
[n] pretending with intention to deceive

Related Terms | Find terms related to Pretense:

Pretense In Webster's Dictionary

\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.

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