PRETENDING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Pretending

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/pritˈɛndɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Pretend v. t. (past & past part. pretended; pres. part. pretending)

1.

To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim. "Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend."

2.

To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. (R.) "Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them."

3.

To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship. "This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal."

4.

To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. (Obs.) "Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state."

5.

To hold before one; to extend. (Obs.) "His target always over her pretended."

Pretend 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." "For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well."

2.

To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep. "(He) pretended to drink the waters."

See images of 'Pretending'

Etymology of 'Pretending'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Pretending" Quotes from Famous Books

... more than her wonted stateliness, and was about to follow her niece; but M. de Bois, pretending not to perceive her intention, closed the door ...

— Fairy Fingers - A Novel • Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie

... high-spirited and roystering youngster, who would go to any pains and run any risk for the sake of the fun it afforded. This propensity was carried to such an extent that the youth earned the name of being a "bad boy," and there is no use of pretending he did not deserve the reputation. He gave his parents and neighbors a good deal of anxiety, and Dr. Dewey, who knew how to be stern as well as kind, was compelled more than once to interpose his authority in a way that no ...

— Dewey and Other Naval Commanders • Edward S. Ellis

... justified several visits, until Miss Pillbody could decide positively that it would be impossible for her to take them—an announcement which greatly relieved Overtop, though it temporarily put an end to his calls. Then he hit upon the expedient of pretending to write an essay on Popular Education, for a monthly magazine, and desired to obtain hints from her upon the subject. Miss Pillbody, not displeased with the compliment, though declaring that she had not an idea to give him, gave him a great many ...

— Round the Block • John Bell Bouton

... once more looking cheerful. At the smallest provocation they exchanged notes of admiration, such as, "O Tommy, what a bonny barrel!" or "O Elspeth, I tell yer that's a dike, and there's just walls in London;" but sometimes Elspeth would stoop hastily, pretending that she wanted to tie her boot-lace, but really to brush away a tear, and there were moments when Tommy hung very limp. Each was trying to deceive the other for the other's sake, and one of them was never good at deception. They saw through ...

— Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 4 • Charles Dudley Warner

... around everywhere, asking to help, and pretending she's sorry we're going. But she isn't sorry. She's glad. I know she is. She never did appreciate Mother, and she thinks she'll have everything her own way now. But she won't. I could tell her a thing or two if I wanted to. But ...

— Mary Marie • Eleanor H. Porter

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