pretend 
From these Mahometan Sanctuaries, our Guide pretend 
ed to carry u to a t'hri>tin Church, about two furlongs 
out of Town on the South side. 
MavndrrU, Aleppo to Jeruaalem, p. 15. 
2. To put forward as a statement or an asser- 
i ion ; especially, to allege or declare falsely or 
with intent to deceive. 
I examined every thing without any one to accompany 
IMP but my own (errant, which the}- pretended was very 
dangerous. Pocodre, Description of the East, II. II. 110. 
Then I pretended to be a musician ; marry, I could not 
shew mine Instrument, and that bred a discord. 
B. Jmuon, Love Restored. 
In the vicinity of what was called the Lady Dudley's 
chamber, the domestics pretended to hear groans and 
creams, and other supernatural noises. 
Scott, Kenllworth, ill. 
His eulogists, unhappily, could not pretend that his mor- 
als had escaped untainted from the wide-spread conta- 
gion of that age. Macaulay, Hist Eng., vL 
3. To put forward as a reason or excuse ; use 
as a pretext; allege as a ground or reason; 
hence, to put forward a false appearance of; 
simulate; counterfeit; feign. 
The queen, sir, very oft Importuned me 
To temper poisons for her, still pretending 
The satisfaction of her knowledge only 
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs. 
Shak., Cymbeline, v. 6. 250. 
Generally to pretend Conscience against I.a Is danger- 
ous. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 39. 
Lest that too heavenly form, pretended 
To hellish falsehood, snare them ! 
Milton, P. L., x. 872. 
This let him know, 
Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 
Surprlsal. MUtan, P. L., v. 244. 
No knave but boldly will pretend 
The requisites that form a friend. 
Cowper, Friendship, st. 3. 
4. To lay claim to; assert as a right or posses- 
sion ; claim. 
Why shall we fight, If yon pretend no title? 
Shak., 3 Hen. VI., Iv. 7. 67. 
The gentry pretend to have their victuals dressed and 
served up as nicely as if they were in London. 
Beeerley, Virginia, Iv. ^ 70. 
5. To aspire to; attempt; undertake. [Obso- 
lete or archaic.] 
And those two brethren Oyauntes did defend 
The walles so stoutly with their sturdle mayne, 
That never entraunce any durst pretend. 
Spenter, . O,., 1J. xi. 15. 
I will not pretend so much as to mention that chart on 
which in drawn the appearance of our blessed Lord after 
his resurrection. Steele. Spectator, No. 226. 
Dost thou dare pretend to punish me 
For not descrying sunshine at midnight? 
Browning, Ring and Book, II. 222. 
6t. To intend; design; plan; plot. 
Marriage being the most holy conjunction that falls to 
mankind, . . . she had not only broken it. but broken it 
with death, and the most pretended death that might be. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, v. 
Reward not hospitality 
With snrh Mack payment as thon hast pretended . 
Shak., Lncrece, I. 676. 
Harm not tills young forrester ; 
Noe ill doth he pretend. 
RMn Hood and the Tanner's Daughter (Child's Ballads. 
(V. 337). 
Oet TOII anil pray the gods 
For success and return ; omit not any thing 
In the pretended celebration. 
Fletcher (and another), Two Noble Kinsmen, 1. 1. 
7t. To presage ; portend ; forebode. 
It pleslth hem to dwelle In derk, and in hlak, orrlble, 
stynkynge placis, In heuynesse, wreche, and malencoly, 
and In tho thingls that pretendr. the condlcioun of helle. 
Book o/ (Juinte Essence (ed. Furnlvall), p. 19. 
Doth this churlish superscription 
Pretend some alteration In good will? 
Shot., 1 Hen. VL, iv. 1. M. 
II. iiitraiix. 1. To stretch or reach forward ; 
aim ; aspire : often with to. 
For to what fyn he wolde anon pretende, 
That knowe I wel, and forth! yet I seye, 
So lef this sorwe, or platly he wol dye. 
Chaueer, Trollns, Iv. 924. 
I am content to go forward a little more in the mad- 
ness of missing rather than not pretend ; and rather wear 
out than rust. Lhnne, Letters, xxxvL 
2. To lay claim ; assert a right of ownership 
or possession : generally followed by tit. 
A fi-llow that nvfnidt only to learning, buys titles, and 
nothing else of books In him ! B. Jontm, Eplccene, 1. 1. 
Men of those noble breedings you pretend to 
Should scorn to lie, or get their food with falsehood. 
Fletcher (and another), Sea Voyage, Iv. 1. 
The Book which I have to Answer pretends to reason, 
not to Autorltles and quotations. 
Milton, Elkonoklastes, v. 
Merit Is a claim, and may pretend justly to favour. 
Steele, Lying Lover, L 1. 
3. To make pretense; make believe; counter- 
feit or feign. 
4712 
pretendant, pretendent (pre-ten'dant, -dent), 
n. [< .pretendant= Sp.pretendienle = Pg. It. 
pretendente, < L. pratenaen(t-)s. ppr. of pra- 
tendere, pretend : see pretend.] A pretender; a 
claimant. 
Neither the Confederation nor the duchies, nor all the 
preteiulents to the succession, had acceded to the treaty. 
Woobey, Introd. to Inter. Law, App. 1L, p. 428. 
pretendedly (pre-ten'ded-li), adv. By or with 
pretense ; by false representation ; ostensibly. 
An action . . . that came speciously and pretendedly out 
out of a Church. Hammond, Works, I V. 693. ( Latham, ) 
He was also raising Forces In London, pretendedly to 
serve the Portugal), but with Intent to seise the Tower. 
Milton, Elkonoklastes, x. 
pretendencet (pre-ten'dens), . [< ML. prse- 
tendentia, pretense, claim, < L. preetenden(t-)n, 
claiming: see pretendant.] Pretension; claim. 
Be It enough that God and men do scorn 
Their projects, censures, vain pretendences. 
Daniel, To the King's Majesty. 
pretendent,". See pretendaitt. 
pretender (pre-ten'der), n. 1. One who pre- 
tends, or makes a false show, as of learning or 
of legal right. 
The King 
Pronounced a dismal sentence, meaning by It 
To keep the list low and pretenders back. 
Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. 
2. One who pretends, or puts f orward a claim ; 
a claimant ; an aspirant. 
You must know I am a pretender to the angle, and, 
doubtless, a Trout affords the most pleasure to the angler 
of any sort of fish whatever. 
Cotton, in Walton's Angler, II. 224. 
There are no distinguishing qualities among men to 
which there are not false pretender*. 
Steele, Tatler, No. 211. 
3. Specifically, a claimant to a throne, in Brit- 
ish history there 'have been several pretenders, especially 
"the Pretender," James Kdward Stuart, son of James II., 
who In 171.", made an unsuccessful attempt to gain the 
English throne and supplant the reigning Hanoverian 
dynasty; another unsuccessful attempt was made in his 
behalf In 1745-e by his son Charles Edward (often called 
"the Young Pretender"). 
God bless the king, 1 mean the faith's defender; 
God bless no harm in blessing the Pretender; 
But who pretender Is, or who Is king 
Cod bless us all ' that 's quite another thing. 
Byntn, To an Officer in the Army. 
pretendership (pre-ten'der-ship), n. [< pre- 
ti inter + -fliij).] The claim, character, or po- 
sition of a pretender. 
I am at a loss how to dispose of the Dauphlne, If he hap- 
pen to be king of France before the pretendertthip to Brit- 
ain falls to his share. Sicifl, Public Spirit of the Whigs. 
pretendingly (pre-ten'ding-li), </>. Iii a pre- 
tending manner; pretentiously. 
I have a particular reason for looking a little pretend- 
ingly at present. Jeremy Collier, Pride. 
pretense, pretence (pro-tens'), . [< AF. 'pre- 
tense, pre tenser, pretense, ( ML. prtetetum, fern, of 
prxtensiiK, for L. prtetentufi, pp. of prietendcre, 
pretend: see pretend.] If. An intention; a 
design ; a purpose. 
Put of your clothes In winter by the fire side, and cause 
your bed to bee heated with a warming panne, vnless your 
prrten-e bee to harden your memlwrs, and to apply your 
selfe vnto mllltarie discipline. 
Babees Rook (E. E. T. s. \ p. 263. 
I have perceived a most faint neglect of late ; which I 
have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as 
a very pretence and pur]K)se of unkindness. 
Shak., Lear, L 4. 76. 
To Please, this Time, has been his sole Pretence. 
Confrere, Way of the World, Prol. 
2. The act of pretending, or putting forward 
something to conceal the true state of affairs, 
and thus to deceive ; hence, the representation 
of that which does not exist ; simulation ; feign- 
ing; a false or hypocritical show; a sham. 
Hell fill this land with arms, 
And make pretence of wrong that I have done him. 
Shalt., Pericles, I. 2. 91. 
Open violence 
May bee avoided ; hot false 1n\r pretense 
Is hardly 'scaped with much leopardy. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Triumph of Faith, II. 32. 
All zeal for a reform that gives offence 
To peace and charity Is mere pretence. 
Covper, Charity, 1. 634. 
3. That under cover of which an actual design 
or meaning is concealed ; a pretext. 
Charles the emperor, 
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt 
For 'twas Indeed his colour, but he came 
To whisper Wolsey- here makes visitation. 
Shot., Hen. VIII.. L 1. 177. 
We told them that we came for a Trade with the Span- 
lards at Manila, and should he glad If they would carry a 
Letter to some Merchant there, which they promised to do. 
But this was only a pretence of ours, to get out of them 
what Intelligence we could as to their Shipping. Strength. 
ami the like. Itampirr, Voyages, I. 383. 
pretension 
4. Pretension; aspiration ; the putting forth of 
a claim, particularly to merit, dignity, or per- 
sonal worth; pretentiousness. 
Likewise, If I should disclose my pretence In lone, I would 
eyther make a strange discourse of some Intolerable pas- 
sion, or flnde occasion to pleade by the example of some 
historic. Oascoigne, Steele Glas, etc. (ed. Arber), p. 32. 
It has always been my endeavour to distinguish between 
realities and appearances, and separate true merit from 
the pretence to it. Additon, Sir Timothy Tittle. 
You think him humble God accounts him proud ; 
High In demand, though lowly In pretence. 
Cowper, Truth, 1. 98. 
Mourn for the man of amplest Influence, 
Yet clearest of ambitious crime, 
our greatest yet with least pretence. 
Tennyson, Death of Wellington, iv. 
8. A claim ; a right asserted, with or without 
foundation. 
In the same time king Edward the II]., him selfe quar- 
tering the Armes of England and France, did discouer his 
pretence and clayme to the Crowne of Fraunce. 
Puttrnhain. Arte of Eng. Poesle, p. 9. 
Heard the complaints of the Jamaica merchants against 
the Spaniards for hindering them from cutting logwood 
on the main land, where they have an pretence. 
Evelyn, Diary, April 19, 1672. 
There breathes no being but has some pretence 
To that flue Instinct called poetic sense. 
O. W. Holmet, Poetry. 
Escutcheon of pretense. See escutcheon. False pre- 
tense, a false representation as to a matter of fact, made 
in order to Induce another to part with property, and with 
Intent to cheat : commonly in the plural. Shield of pre- 
tense, an inescutcheon borne to assert the owner's preten- 
sions to an estate ; an escutcheon of pretense. Statute 
Of false pretenses. See statute. = Syn. 2. Pretene, Pre- 
text, Pretension, mask, color, excuse, simulation, affecta- 
tion, cant, claptrap, subterfuge, evasion. A pretense Is the 
holding forth of that which Is false : as, his grief, admira- 
tion of a picture, piety, was all a pretense ; selfish or ulte- 
rior purposes may be connected with the matter, but not 
necessarily so : as, to obtain money under false pretentei. 
A pretext has something else In view, and makes It seem 
right or natural, or hides it out of sight ; the man whose 
friendship is mere pretense will trump up some pretext to 
escape from each claim upon him for help. That which 
Is used as a pretext may or may not exist. A pretension Is 
a claim advanced or asserted, or a holding out of an ap- 
pearance : as, pretensions to wealth, learning, respectabil- 
ity. Pretensions generally go Iteyond fact or right, but 
not necessarily. I'rrtenne and pretext of course ordinarily 
express that which Is wrong; they may be lightly used of 
that which Is proper. 
Sincerity Is impossible, unless It pervade the whole be- 
ing, and the pretence of It saps the very foundation of 
character. Lowell, Study Windows, p. 39. 
France and England, without seeking for any decent 
pretext, declared war against Holland. 
Macaulay, Sir William Temple. 
Without any considerable jwftemnon* to literature In my- 
self, I have aspired to the love of letters. 
Burke, To a Noble Lord. 
prctensed (pre-tensf), a, [< L. jireetensus, pp. 
of prtetendere, pretend (see pretense), + -rX] 
If. Intended; designed. 
They can never be clerely extirpate or digged out of 
their rotten hartes, but that they wllle with hande and 
fote, toothe and nayle. further If they can their pretemed 
enterprlce. Hall, Henry VII., f. 6. (HalliireU.) 
Whcrvpon Cesar, forasmuche as he made so great ac- 
compt of the Heduans, deterniyned by some meanes or 
other to brydle Dumnorlx and to fear him from hlsprt- 
tensed purpose. Uotdiny, tr. of Ciesar, fol. 112. 
2. Pretended; feigned. 
Protestants have had In England their pretemed synods 
and convocations. 
fitaplcton, Fortress of the Faith, fol. 140. (Lnthnm.) 
As for the sequestration of his fruits, he [Gardlnerl pro- 
tested that It was apretensed decree, if indeed it existed. 
A 1 If. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., xvllL 
Pretensed right, In fatr, the right or title to land set up 
by one who Is out of possession against the person in 
possession. 
pretensedlyt(pre-ten'sed-li),rtrff. Pretendedly; 
ostensibly. 
The Parliament saw year after year their own statute of 
repeal traversed by these royal or trretensedttt royal edicts. 
K. W. Dixon, II 1st. Church of Eng., xv. 
pretenseless (pre-tens'les), a. [< pretense + 
-less.] Destitute of pretense or pretension. 
What Rebellions, and those the basest, and most pre- 
tenselesse, have they not been ohlefc In ? 
Milt:, n. Reformation In Eng., ii. 
pretension (pre-ten'shon), n. [Formerly also 
prttentinn; ttiF. prrteiitioii, F. )in'-ti ntinn = Sp. 
pretension = Pg. prete>;So = It. preteimione, < 
ML. pnetrntio(n-), < L. prtetendere, pp. vrte- 
trntux or prrteiimut, pretend: see /in trn<l.~\ 1. 
The act of putting forth a claim (specifically, a 
false one), particularly to merit, dignity, or im- 
portance; pretentiousness. 
Good without noise, without pretension great 
Pope, Epitaph on R. Dlgby. 
Legates and delegates with pow'rs from hell. 
Though heav'nly in irretention, fleec'd thee well. 
Covper, Expostulation, I. 616. 
