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Webster 1913 Edition

Pretend

Pre-tend′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pretended
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Pretending
.]
[OE.
pretenden
to lay claim to, F.
prétendre
, L.
praetendere
,
praetentum
, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert;
prae
before +
tendere
to stretch. See
Tend
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.
Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they
pretend
.
Dryden.
2.
To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
[R.]
Lest that too heavenly form,
pretended

To hellish falsehood, snare them.
Milton.
3.
To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign;
as, to
pretend
friendship
.
This let him know,
Lest, willfully transgressing, he
pretend

Surprisal.
Milton.
4.
To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.
[Obs.]
Such as shall
pretend

Malicious practices against his state.
Shakespeare
5.
To hold before one; to extend.
[Obs.]
“His target always over her pretended.”
Spenser.

Pre-tend′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; – usually with to.
“Countries that pretend to freedom.”
Swift.
For to what fine he would anon
pretend
,
That know I well.
Chaucer.
2.
To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham;
as, to
pretend
to be asleep
.
“[He] pretended to drink the waters.”
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pretend

PRETEND'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. proetendo; proe, before, and tendo, to tend, to reach or stretch.]
1.
Literally, to reach or stretch forward; used by Dryden, but this use is not well authorized.
2.
To hold out, as a false appearance; to offer something feigned instead of that which is real; to simulate, in words or actions.
This let him know,
Lest willfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisal.
3.
To show hypocritically; as, to pretend great zeal when the heart is not engaged; to pretend patriotism for the sake of gaining popular applause or obtaining an office.
4.
To exhibit as a cover for something hidden.
Lest that too heavenly form, pretended
To hellish falsehood, snare them. [Not in use.]
5.
To claim.
Chiefs shall be grudg'd the part which they pretend.
[In this we generally use pretend to.]
6.
To intend; to design. [Not used.]

PRETEND'

,
Verb.
T.
To put in a claim, truly or falsely; to hold out the appearance of being, possessing or performing. A man may pretend to be a physician, and pretend to perform great cures. Bad men often pretend to be patriots.

Definition 2024

prétend

prétend

See also: pretend

French

Verb

prétend

  1. third-person singular present indicative of prétendre

Anagrams

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