pretext

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 See also 1.6 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

< French prétexte < Latin praetextum (“‘an ornament, etc., wrought in front, a pretense’”), neut. of praetextus, pp. of praetexere (“‘to weave before, fringe or border, allege’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

pretext (plural pretexts)

1. A false, contrived or assumed purpose; a pretense.

   The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:pretext

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to pretext (third-person singular simple present pretexts, present participle pretexting, simple past and past participle pretexted)

1. To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.

   HP chairwoman Patricia Dunn obtained directors' home phone records using possibly-illegal pretexting methods.

[edit] Translations

• Hebrew: אמתלה (amátlah)
• Deutsch Vorwand

[edit] See also

• At Wikipedia: Social engineering

[edit] External links

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