▪ I. † preˈtense, a. Obs.
Also 5 pretence.
[ad. late L. prætens-us (in Quicherat Addenda) for cl. L. prætent-us, pa. pple. of prætendĕre to stretch forth, pretend.]
Pretended, alleged, professed; feigned; dissembling, fictitious.
| 1396–7 in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907) XXII. 302 Manslaute be batayle or pretense lawe of rythwysnesse, for temporal cause or spirituel, with outen special reuelaciun, is expres contrarious to þe newe testament. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 165 A double hert withe fayre feyned countenaunce, And a pretence face trouble in his daliaunce. 1461 Rolls of Parlt. V. 465/1 In a pretence Parlement..holden at Coventree. 1496 Dives & Paup. (W. de W.) ii. 22 Ther is naturell or kyndely lordshyppe. Ther is also cyuyle or seculer lordshyp. And ther is lordshyp pretense. |
▪ II. pretense, n. and v.
variant of pretence.