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Dictionary

pre•tense

Pronunciation: (pri-tens', prē'tens), [key]
—n.
1. pretending or feigning; make-believe: My sleepiness was all pretense.
2. a false show of something: a pretense of friendship.
3. a piece of make-believe.
4. the act of pretending or alleging falsely.
5. a false allegation or justification: He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.
6. insincere or false profession: His pious words were mere pretense.
7. the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.
8. the claim itself.
9. any allegation or claim: to obtain money under false pretenses.
10. pretension (usually fol. by to): destitute of any pretense to wit.
11. pretentiousness. Also, esp. Brit.,pretence.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

pretender

pretension

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