{ } 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ] I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ] 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 Cæsar's death. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint. [ 1913 Webster ] Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense
Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Intention; design. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] A very pretense and purpose of unkindness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ See the Note under Offense. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Variants: Pretense | 