▪ I. pretend, v.
(prɪˈtɛnd)
Also 7 præ-.
[ad. L. prætend-ĕre to stretch forth, hold before, put forward, allege, pretend, f. præ, pre- A. + tendĕre to stretch, extend, tend. So F. prétendre (15th c. in Littré).]
I. † 1. trans. To stretch, extend, or hold (something) before, in front of, or over a person or thing (e.g. as a covering or defence). Obs.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. xi. 19 But Pastorella..Was by the Captaine all this while defended, Who..His target alwayes over her pretended. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 145 They may pretend them [bells of earth over plants] for the night only, and to prevent hail. 1670 H. Stubbe Plus Ultra 146 There was an opacous, dark red setling, with an enaeorema of contexed filaments pretended to the top. |
† 2. To bring or put forward, set forth, hold out, offer for action, consideration, or acceptance; to proffer, present; to bring (a charge, an action at law).
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xlv. 115 Lorde, what may I..riȝtwesly pretende ayenst þe if þou do not þat I aske? 1563 B. Googe Eglogs, etc. (Arb.) 78 Suche towardenes,..Doth sure a hope, of greater thyngs pretende. 1569 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 30 Without prejudice of the said Gilbertis actioun..that he may have, pretend, or move, aganis the airis. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xii. (1596) 198 God..had pretended a remedie in that behalfe, which was..Manna. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle, Cert. Poems (E.E.T.S.) 110, I had not thought..to have pretended thus conspicuously in thy sight this rude and indigested chaos of conceites. 1621–3 Middleton & Rowley Changeling iv. ii. 91 To that wench I pretend honest love, and she deserves it. 1653 Holcroft Procopius ii. 55 Women..offered their breasts; but the child would not take womans milk, neither would the Goat leave it; but importunatly..pretended to it her own. So that the women let it alone, and the Goat nursed it. 1690 Leybourn Curs. Math. 345 When there is an Aequation pretended like aa+ba+ca = -bc, present judgement may be made. |
3. † a. refl. To put oneself forward in some character; to profess or claim (with inf. or compl.).
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 518 Þo þat pretenden hem to ben principal folewers of Cristis steppis. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 886 He þat pretendiþ him of most nobley. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 26 Pretendand the to wryte sic skaldit skrowis. 1660 Fuller Mixt Contempl. (1841) 252 Poor, petty, pitiful persons, who pretended themselves princes. 1672 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 246 A paper or libell..pretending itselfe to be a remonstrance. 1680 H. Dodwell Two Lett. (1691) Ep. Ded., None can now pretend themselves unconcerned in the Advice of a Laick, or a private Person. |
b. Without reflexive pronoun, in same sense as a; gradually passing into one closely akin to 7: To put forth an assertion or statement (expressed by an inf.) about oneself; now usually implying mere pretension without foundation: to feign to be or do something. (A leading modern sense.)
| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. x. (1555), She vnto some pretendeth to be trewe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 204 Yf he had pretended to suffre payne & had feled no smarte. 1530 Palsgr. 665/2 He pretendith to be my frynde, but he doyth the worst for me that he can. 1535 Coverdale Job xxxv. 8 Of y⊇ sonne of man that is rightuous as thou pretendest to be. 1638 Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. i. §10. 37, I may, and doe believe them, as firmely as you pretend to do. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 227 He will pretend not to have seen him. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones ii. vi, He was ignorant, or at least pretended to be so. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxi, The people pretend to know nothing about any prisoners. 1847 Helps Friends in C. I. 10 Pretending to agree with the world when you do not. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xxx, I cannot pretend to feel any of the interest you consider essential. |
† c. with ellipsis of refl. pron. or inf. Obs.
| 1671 Milton Samson 212 Wisest Men Have err'd, and by bad Women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne're so wise. |
d. To feign in play; to make believe. (With inf. as in b, or clause as in 7 a.)
| 1865 ‘L. Carroll’ Alice in Wonderl. i, This curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people. 1871 ― Through Looking-gl. i, ‘Let's pretend we're kings and queens.’.. ‘Nurse! do let's pretend that I'm a hungry hyæna, and you're a bone!’ 1891 E. Kinglake Australian at H. 20 The boys used to pretend that they were a court of justice, and appoint a judge, jury [etc.]. |
4. trans. To give oneself out as having (something); to profess to have, make profession of, profess (a quality, etc.). Now always in a bad sense: to profess falsely, to feign (some quality).
| 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 55 Anticristis menye,..the which pretenden first mekenesse of herte, and aftir rysyng to arrogaunce, disdeynynge al other. Ibid. 102 Thou seist that we pretenden the perfeccioun of apostlis. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. v. (MS. Digby 230) lf. 40 b/2 Thouȝ þ{supt} þei feith aforn pretende. 1563–4 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 256 Nane of his liegis pretend ignorance heirin. 1629 Massinger Picture iv. ii, That comfort which The damned pretend, fellows in misery. 1654 Fuller Two Serm. 37 Leastwise they seemingly pretended it [real piety]; and Joshua charitably beleeved it. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 203 Good Meanings rather pretended than intended, are ful of Hel, and Mischiefe. 1740 Grenville in Johnson's Debates 4 Dec. (1787) I. 79, I do not pretend any other skill in military affairs, than may be gained by casual conversation with soldiers. c 1850 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 707 The enchantress then related..how she pretended illness, and thus excited Prince Ahmed's compassion. |
† b. esp. To profess or claim to have (a right, title, power, authority, or the like); to claim. Obs.
| 1427 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 326/2 Any right þat he wolde pretende or clayme in the governance. 1469 Paston Lett. II. 344 My Lorde of Norffolk pretendeth title to serteyn londys of Sir John Pastons. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 17 b, Where a man pretendeth a tytle and after releseth in the court. 1658 Bramhall Consecr. Bps. v. 133 Where the Bishop of London never pretended any Jurisdiction. 1667 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 44 Notwithstanding any priviledge hee may pretend as being our servant. 1784 Cowper Let. to J. Newton 11 Dec., Its right being at least so far a good one, that no word in the language could pretend a better. |
† 5. To put forth or lay a claim to (a thing); to assert as a right or possession; to claim. Obs.
| 1495 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 489/1 That your said Oratour may have..the said Manours..ayenst..all other persones and their heyres, havyng, claymyng or pretendyng any thing therin. 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 39 He hath no reason to pretend the Diamond. 1680 Morden Geog. Rect., Japan (1685) 427 At this day the Hollanders pretend all Trade at Japan. 1693 Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 70 The Peach-tree might well pretend a place there, for the Excellency of its good Fruit. 1755 N. Magens Insurances II. 165 Seamen taken and made Slaves shall not pretend any thing for their Ransom, either of the Master, Owners or Freighters. |
† b. with inf. or clause. Obs.
| c 1500 in I. S. Leadam Star Chamb. Cases (1903) 95 [Henry] Erle of Northumberland claymythe and pretendythe to haue the warde and mariage of your saide Oratoure. 1654 tr. Martini's Conq. China 129 This Prince pretended that the K. called Lu. should yield up his right to him. 1686 F. Spence tr. Varillas' Ho. Medicis 36 The deputy of the Ruffians pretended to receive the full sum which his accomplices had agreed upon. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. I. ix. 204 As both the archbishops pretended to sit on his right hand, this question of precedency begat a controversy between them. |
† 6. To put forward as a reason or excuse; to use as a pretext; to allege as a ground or reason.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 191 The resoun that thai pretend is this. 1532 Tindale Expos. Matt. v–vii. vi. 67 b, Hyrelinges wil pretende their worke and saye: ‘I haue deserued it, I haue done so much and so much and my laboure is worth it’. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 339 b, Thou canst not hereafter pretend the name of the Turkishe warre. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 27 At this time the Irishmen rebelled..pretending the libertie of Religion. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 54 When I pretended mine unfitnes for such a place and imployment. 1658 Whole Duty Man xiv. §5 We must..not pretend conscience for a cloak of stubbornness. a 1715 Burnet Own Time an. 1684 (1823) II. 423 The only excuse that was ever pretended for this infamous prosecution was [etc.]. 1776 Jefferson Writ. (1892) I. 47 Speak in honest language and say the minority will be in danger from the majority. And is there an assembly on earth where this danger may not be equally pretended? |
7. To put forward as an assertion or statement; to allege; now esp. to allege or declare falsely or with intent to deceive. (A leading current sense.) a. with clause.
| 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 362 Pretending that he was sickly. 1629 Prynne Ch. Eng. 87 If they have power to leave their sinnes as they prætend they have, why are their lives so vicious? 1637 Heylin Brief Answ. Burton 21 It is pretended that..you were not bound to answer to it. 1693 Dryden Juvenal 15 Noblemen wou'd cause empty Litters to be carried to the Giver's Door, pretending their Wives were within them. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 257 By this construction he pretends..that..this charge, or weight, will be stopped, or stayed by the Inverse Arches. 1765 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (ed. 2) III. App., It is pretended that to satisfy their natural impatience, he formed a hasty manner that prejudiced his works and reputation. 1804 Med. Jrnl. XII. 537 [This] induced practitioners to suppose, or to pretend, that the small-pox sometimes degenerates into the chicken-pox. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 26 A monk wrote a letter in golden characters which she was to pretend had been given her by Mary Magdalen. |
† b. pass. with inf. or compl. Obs.
(The work was pretended to be ready = it was pretended that the work was ready; passive of they pretended that the work was ready.)
| 1639 Ld. Digby, etc. Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 108 The precedency..is pretended due upon another ground also. 1658 Bramhall Consecr. Bps. i. 7 He might heare many things..from the persons prætended to have bene then consecrated. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxviii. §10 Vertue and Vice are Names pretended and suppos'd every where to stand for Actions in their own nature right and wrong. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. xii. 260 These rocks..are by the help of a little imagination, pretended to resemble the form of a cross. 1781 S. Peters Hist. Connecticut 22, I will now consider the right they are pretended to have acquired after possession. |
c. with simple obj. To allege the existence or presence of.
| 1587 Harrison England ii. v. (1877) i. 128 Monie haue a cote and armes bestowed vpon him by heralds (who in the charter of the same doo of custome pretend antiquitie and seruice, and manie gaie things). 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vii. §2 What ever was pretended to the contrary, England at that time flourished with able Ministers more then ever before. 1668 Hale Pref. Rolle's Abridgm. b j b, Men not much acquainted with the study..pretend two great prejudices and exceptions against the study of the Common-Law. 1710 Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. i. §52 To pretend difficulties and inconsistencies. 1873 H. Rogers Orig. Bible App. (1875) 438 In any ‘type’ it is only analogical resemblance that is pretended. |
d. with infinitive: see 3 b.
† 8. To intend, purpose, design, plan. Obs. a. with simple obj.
| c 1470 Harding Chron. clxxvii. vii, Flakes..ouer the mosse..he layde with fagottes, There gate away [= going away] and passage to pretend. 1502 W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. lxiv. 258 Thou alonly pretendest and sekest my profyte and helthe eternall. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia ii. (1895) 152 This ende is onlye and chiefely pretended and mynded. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 110 That women when they be most pleasaunt, pretend most mischiefe. 1587 Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 75 One that did pretend the spoyle, and slaughter of her sonne. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. v. (1821) 72 They pretend a journie towards the Countie of Limerick. [1840 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Barney Maguire, And now I've ended, what I pretended, This narration splendid in swate poe-thry.] |
b. with clause.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 30 Pretending that men shold speke of his faytes and vailliaunces. 1612 Davies Why Ireland, etc. (1787) 36 To make a perpetual separation and enmity between the English and the Irish, pretending.. that the English should in the end root out the Irish. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. v. 298 We pretend, that this City, already famous for the Defeat of two of your Armadas, shall become far more so by the Disgrace of this your third. |
c. with inf.
| 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 126 Never..shall I departe fro this regyon where as I pretende to save my soule. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. xvii. 58 They shall stray wonderfully in their course, and arrive in another place then where they pretended to go. 1665–6 Phil. Trans. I. 99 He pretends to make a visit into England with some of his Pieces. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. iii. 237 The Christians,..out of whose Hands he pretended to wrest some Place of Strength, wherein to fortify himself. |
9. To aspire to; to take upon one, to undertake; to venture, presume; to attempt, endeavour, try. Const. with inf.
| 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 45 The deuyls..whyche pretendyn by mony weys of reson to haue her to hem. 1550 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 84 In caise it sal happin ony army to pretend to invaid and persew the said fort. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. xiii. 43 Whether King Iosaphats fleete, pretending to go, did suffer ship⁓wracke. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 128 ¶1 Whether..there may not be a kind of Sex in the very Soul, I shall not pretend to determine. 1722 De Foe Plague (1756) 142 The people offered to fire at them, if they pretended to go forward. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §10 (1864) 191 How many ultimate nerve fibres are contained in each unit nerve, we cannot pretend to guess. 1869 Browning Ring & Bk. x. 1781 Dost thou dare pretend to punish me For not descrying sunshine at midnight? |
† 10. To portend, presage, foreshow. Obs.
| c 1425 Found. St. Bartholomew's (E.E.T.S.) 38 All the elementys pretendid to the wrecchid shipmenne deith of nature. 1513 Douglas æneis x. v. 147 The sing Pretendand tyll all mortale folk,..Contagyus infirmyteis and seyknes. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 741 It pretended by all reasone Synguler grace and goodnes to her comynge soone. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 63 b, The signes and wounders that are seene in all places, doe pretende no good. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 218 Which the standers by..said did pretend some such accident unto the elder of the two Consuls. 1634 R. H. Salernes Regim. 16 Overmuch repleation pretendith strangling or suddaine death. |
† 11. To indicate, signify, import, mean. Obs.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 181 That her name pretendeth, in that she is called Maria, that is, the sterre of y⊇ see. 1588 Lambarde Eiren. iv. iii. 395 These men be not truly Iurors, till they be sworne, as their name pretendeth. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 459 Although the curling of his haire be a token of sluggish timidity, yet if the haire bee long and curled at the top onely, it pretendeth generous animosity. 1639 Chapman & Shirley Ball iii. iii, What pretends this, to dance? there's something in't. |
II. intr. (from prec. senses.)
† 12. To stretch or reach forward; to move or go forward; to extend, tend; to direct one's course to, to make for. Obs.
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. i. (Skeat) I. 110 It maketh me backwarde to meue, whan my steppes by comon course euen forthe pretende. 1481 Caxton Myrr. iii. xv. 168 Who pretendeth to god, God attendeth to hym. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1076, I wyll pretende To stey to my father. Ibid. 2073 On-to my sell I woll pretend. [Stage direct. Her xall þe prest go to his selle.] 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter ii. 20 Though we pretend for heaven, yet still we bear about us a twang of our native country. 1650 W. Brough Sacr. Princ. (1659) 35 Suffer none..to pull down Thy throne, whilst they pretend for Thy scepter. |
† b. fig. To tend in action, speech, etc. to an end or point; to extend in time. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 894 (922) For to what fyn he wolde a-non pretende Þat wot I wel. c 1520 Barclay Jugurth (1557) 67 b, The wordes and counsel of the enchantour and preest whiche helde his sacrifice pretended to the same poynte and conclusion as the desyre of his mynde moued him longe before. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1701) 75/1 None of his arguments pretend beyond Meton's time. 1657 Jer. Taylor Collect. Polemical Disc. (1674) Ep. Ded., I find by experience that we cannot acquire that end which is pretended to by such addresses. |
13. to pretend to. † a. To aspire to, aim at, make pretension to; to be a suitor or candidate for. Obs.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. xiv. 45 Some pretende to hye estates & grete richesses, & other ben content with lytil estate. c 1500 Lancelot 559 Shir knycht, your lorde wondir hie pretendis, When he to me sic salutatioune sendis. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 132 To heich promotione he pretendit. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Unkindnesse iv, When that my friend pretendeth to a place, I quit my interest, and leave it free. 1672 Sir C. Lyttelton in Hatton Corr. (Camden) 100 My L{supd} Fanshaw was disapointed of his desire to goe to Constantinople, having long pretended to it. |
b. spec. [ad. F. prétendre à.] To make suit for, try to win in marriage.
| 1652 J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox iv. 82 In this..the Salvage Podolian had two ends; One, to hinder Liante from pretending to his Daughter. 1723 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 206 That..step..lays her under the foot of the man she pretends to. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes xxiv, He might pretend surely to his kinswoman's hand. 1874 T. Hardy Madding Crowd xxix, I am not such a fool as to pretend to you now I am poor, and you have altogether got above me. |
c. To lay claim to; to assert a right of ownership to.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §11 The House of Commons never then Pretending to the least part of Judicature. 1683 Burnet tr. More's Utopia (1753) 127 Yet they pretended to no Share of the Spoil. 1769 Junius Lett. xvi. (1820) 70 The ministry have not yet pretended to such a tyranny over our minds. 1834–43 Southey Doctor cxviii. (1848) 289/1 He was as justly entitled to the appellation of a learned man..as he was far from pretending to it. |
d. To claim or profess to have; to make profession of having; to affect.
| 1659 Hammond On Ps. xviii. 20 What is here meant by the cleannesse of David's hands, to which he here pretends. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 320 Lamented by all men living who pretended to Virtue. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 51 ¶2 Persons who cannot pretend to that Delicacy and Modesty, of which she is Mistress. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) V. 223 Each party pretended to the victory. 1836–7 Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. viii. (1870) 147 To determine the shares to which the knowing subject, and the object known, may pretend in the total act of cognition. 1843 Miall in Nonconf. III. 1 A bondage which it becomes all who pretend to intelligence to renounce and abjure. 1868 Helps Realmah viii. (1876) 203 People who pretend to supernatural wisdom. |
† e. To make pretensions or claims on behalf of, to support the claims of. Obs.
| 1650 T. Vaughan Anthroposophia 19, I know the Peripateticks pretend to four, and with the help of their Masters Quintessence to a fift Principle. 1659 Bp. Walton Consid. Considered 8 Witness a late Pamphlet, pretending to the integrity and purity of the Hebrew and Greek Text. 1670 E. Borlase Lathom Spaw Ep. Ded., I know, Medicinal Springs were never more pretended to than of late. |
† 14. To form designs; to plot (against). Obs.
| 1559–66 Hist. Estate Scotl. in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 63 She said, That it wes against her authoritie that they pretended. |
15. To make pretence; to make believe; to counterfeit, feign.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 78 Pretendynge and shewynge outwardly as though it were of very mekenes, but it is of false mekenes. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 125 b, The byshop nowe pretendeth as though he would calle a counsel. c 1640 Waller À la Malade 6 Had the rich gifts, conferred on you So amply thence, the common end Of giving lovers—to pretend? 1733 Fielding Quix. in Eng. iii. xv, Pretend madness! Give me leave to tell you, Mr. Brief, I am not to be pretended with. 1780 Cowper Progr. of Err. 15 Weak to perform, though mighty to pretend. |
b. In imagination or play: absol. of 3 d.
let's pretend (n. phr.): see as main entry.
| 1893 F. H. Burnett One I knew best xiv, So she wandered about in a dream—‘pretending’. That changed it all. The heaps of earth and rubbish were mounds of flowers [etc.]. |
¶ 16. = pertain (perh. an error).
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. xviii. 64 They furnysshed hem..of good men of armes and vytaille and of alle maner of abylement that pretendith to the werre [ed. 1529 ordynaunce that belongeth to warre]. |
▪ II. preˈtend, n.
[f. prec. vb.]
† 1. The act of pretending; a pretension. Obs. rare.
| 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 15 The honour of Priesthood doth [hinder] the vsurpate pretend of Iesuiticall esteeme. Ibid. 314 This platforme doctrine and pretend of the Iesuits. |
2. In (imitation of) children's use: the act of pretending in imagination or play (cf. pretend v. 15 b). Also attrib. passing into adj., denoting a thing or action that is imitative or imaginary.
| 1888 F. H. Burnett Sara Crewe i. 28 One of her ‘pretends’ was that Emily was a kind of good witch, and could protect her. Poor little Sara! 1911 G. S. Porter Harvester iii. 48 Not so indifferent after all... That was all ‘pretend!’ But she waited just a trifle too long. 1928 Barrie Peter Pan ii. 70 in Plays, Now that they know it is pretend they acclaim her greedily. Ibid. iv. 97 It is a pretend meal this evening, with nothing whatever on the table. a 1936 Kipling Something of Myself (1937) i. 10, I have learned since from children who play much alone that this rule of ‘beginning again in a pretend game’ is not uncommon. 1955 J. Masters Coromandel! 31 It's all pretend, Jason, isn't it? 1959 J. L. Austin Sense & Sensibilia (1962) vii. 72 The water in toy beer-bottles is not toy beer, but pretend beer. 1960 Guardian 3 May 2/1 All ‘pretend’ space outfits can be dangerous and should be banned. 1962 Listener 4 Jan. 20/2 A diminutive, waif-like figure, dressed in rags, with his pretend sword and his pretend gun. 1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai iii. 54 ‘It's only pretend,’ she kept on saying. ‘You mustn't be afraid of pretend.’ 1974 W. Rees-Mogg Reigning Error 109 Gold is real money and paper is pretend money. |