pretend

pretend
I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pretendre, from Latin praetendere to allege as an excuse, literally, to stretch out, from prae- pre- + tendere to stretch — more at thin Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing <
does not pretend to be a psychiatrist
>
2. a. to make believe ; feign <
he pretended deafness
>
b. to claim, represent, or assert falsely <
pretending an emotion he could not really feel
>
3. archaic venture, undertake intransitive verb 1. to feign an action, part, or role especially in play 2. to put in a claim <
cannot pretend to any particular expertise — Clive Barnes
>
Synonyms: see assume II. adjective Date: 1911 1. imaginary, make-believe <
had a pretend pal with whom he talked
>
2. not genuine ; mock <
pretend pearls
>
3. being a nonfunctional imitation <
a pretend train for the children to play in
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pretend — Pre*tend , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pretended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pretending}.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. pr[ e]tendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See {Tend}, v …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pretend — [prē tend′, pritend′] vt. [ME pretenden, to intend < MFr pretendre < L praetendere, to hold forth, allege < prae , before + tendere, to stretch: see THIN] 1. to claim; profess; allege [to pretend ignorance of the law] 2. to claim or… …   English World dictionary

  • Pretend — Pre*tend , v. 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. [1913 Webster] For to what fine he would anon pretend,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pretend to — [phrasal verb] pretend to (something) formal : to claim that you have (something, such as a quality or ability) She pretends to a deep religious devotion, but I don t believe her. usually used in negative statements I don t pretend to any… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pretend — [v1] fake, falsify act, affect, allege, assume, be deceitful, beguile, be hypocritical, bluff, cheat, claim, claim falsely, counterfeit, cozen, deceive, delude, dissemble, dissimulate, dupe, fake out*, feign, fish*, fool, fudge*, hoodwink*,… …   New thesaurus

  • pretend — ► VERB 1) make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not. 2) engage in an imaginative game. 3) simulate (an emotion or quality). 2) (pretend to) lay claim to (a quality or title). ► ADJECTIVE informal ▪ imaginary; make believe …   English terms dictionary

  • pretend — I verb act, affect, assume, be deceitful, be hypocritical, beguile, bemask, bluff, cheat, claim falsely, counterfeit, cozen, deceive, delude, disguise, dissemble, dissimulare, dissimulate, dupe, fake, falsify, feign, fingere, fool, give a false… …   Law dictionary

  • pretend to be — index assume (simulate), impersonate, pose (impersonate) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pretend — (v.) late 14c., to profess, assert, maintain (a claim, etc.), to direct (one s) efforts, from O.Fr. pretendre to lay claim, from L. praetendere stretch in front, put forward, allege, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + tendere to stretch,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pretend — *assume, affect, simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham Analogous words: *disguise, dissemble, cloak, mask, camouflage: *deceive, delude, mislead, beguile …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • pretend — I UK [prɪˈtend] / US verb Word forms pretend : present tense I/you/we/they pretend he/she/it pretends present participle pretending past tense pretended past participle pretended ** 1) [intransitive/transitive] to behave in a particular way… …   English dictionary

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