pretense

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Related terms 1.4.3 Translations 1.4.4 External links 1.5 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• pretence (Only correct spelling in the UK, Irish Republic, and Commonwealth countries, and historical use in the United States)

[edit] Etymology

From Middle French pretensse < Late Latin prætensus, past participle of prætendere (“‘to pretend’”) < præ- (“‘before’”) + tendere (“‘to stretch’”); see pretend.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

pretense (plural pretenses)

1. (US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness; sham, pretext, claim; an effort to give some appearance or mislead.

   without pretense of accuracy

[edit] Synonyms

• sham a substitution, imitation or counterfeit purporting to be the real thing
• affectation denotes deception for the sake of escape from punishment or an awkward situation
• subterfuge
• See also Wikisaurus:pretext

[edit] Related terms

• pretend
• pretender
• pretension
• pretentious
• pretentiousness

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• pretense in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• pretense in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: eeenprst
• Petersen
• preteens, pre-teens
• terpenes