pretense
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
- pretence (Only correct spelling in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and historical use in the United States)
- prætense (archaic)
[edit] Etymology
From Middle French pretensse, from Late Latin prætensus, past participle of prætendere (“to pretend”), from præ- (“before”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see pretend.
[edit] Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
[edit] Noun
pretense (plural pretenses)
- (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
[edit] Translations
false or hypocritical profession
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[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
