See Also: pretend(1)(dictionary)
pretend(2)(dictionary)
pretend 1, verb(dictionary)
pretend 2, adjective(dictionary)

pretend(2) (iou)



pretend verb. LME.
[French pretendre or Latin praetendere stretch forth, put forward, allege, claim, from prae PRE- + tendere stretch, TEND verb2.]
I. verb trans.
Present for consideration or acceptance; bring (a charge, an action at law). LME-L17.
refl. Profess to be or to be. LME-L17.
T. Fuller Poor, petty, pitiful persons who pretended themselves princes.
a. Profess to have (a quality etc.); profess to do. LME.
H. James I don't pretend to have contributed anything to the amusement of my contemporaries.
b. Lay claim to (a thing, esp. a right, title, etc.). Also, claim the right to do. LME-L18.
Make oneself appear to be, to do, or make it appear that something is the case, in order to deceive others or in play; (now rare) make a false profession or outward show of (a quality, feeling, etc.). LME.
L. Carroll Nurse! do let's pretend that I'm a hungry hyaena, and you're a bone! J. Buchan I pretended to retreat over the skyline, but instead went back the way I had come. W. S. Maugham Her heart sank, but she pretended that she was as excited as he. O. Manning It was a mild December night, pretending spring. F. Pohl He no longer had to pretend to be cheerful, he was so in fact.
Put forward as a reason or excuse. LME-L18.
T. Gataker I pretended mine unfitness for such a place and imployment.
a. Assert, claim, that. LME.
Hugh Walpole It is pretended that to satisfy their natural impatience, he formed a hasty manner.
b. Allege the existence or presence of. L16.
H. Rogers In any 'type' it is only analogical resemblance that is pretended.
Intend, plan. LME-E18.
Portend, foreshow. LME-M17.
Aspire or presume to do. L15.
A. Bain How many ultimate nerve fibres are contained in each nerve unit, we cannot pretend to guess.
Signify, mean. E16-M17.
Extend in front of or over a person or thing, esp. as a covering or defence. L16-L17.
II. verb intrans.
Move forward, direct one's course. (Foll. by to, for.) LME-M17.
b. fig. Tend to an end in action, speech, etc. LME-M17.
Foll. by to: (a) arch. pay court to (a prospective wife); formerly, aspire to (a position etc.); (b) lay claim to; profess to have (a quality etc.). L15.
E. Waugh Barbara herself pretended to no illusions about Basil.
Make pretence, esp. in imagination or play; make believe. E16.
let's pretend: see LET verb1.
R. Ingalls I thought actors were supposed to like pretending.