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   Pre·tense

   /prēˈtens/

   

   noun

   • 1. an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true: "his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well" Similar make-believeactputting on an actactingdissemblingshammingshamfakingfeigningsimulationfalsificationdissimulationinventionimaginationself-deceptionplayactingposturingpostureposingposecantattitudinizingdeceptiondeceitdeceitfulnessfraudhoaxfraudulencefabricationduplicityartificesubterfugetreacherytrickerydishonestyhypocrisyfalsitylyingmendacitylack of veracityfalse coloursinformal:kidologyrare:simulacrumfalse showshowsemblanceaffectationfalse appearanceappearanceoutward appearanceimpressionimagefrontfalse frontguisecolorfacadedisplaypostureposemasquerademaskcloakveilveneersmokescreencamouflagecovertravestyparodycharadearchaic:snivelOpposite realityhonesty
   • ▪ a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions: "he asked me questions without any pretense at politeness"
   • ▪ the practice of inventing imaginary situations in play: "before the age of two, children start to engage in pretense"
   • ▪ affected and ostentatious speech and behavior: "they have always avoided preciousness and pretense" Similar pretentiousnessdisplayostentationaffectationshowinessflauntingposturingposinghumbug
   • 2. a claim, especially a false or ambitious one: "he was quick to disclaim any pretense to superiority" Similar claimaspirationpurportingprofession

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French pretense, based on medieval Latin pretensus ‘pretended’, alteration of Latin praetentus, from the verb praetendere (see pretend).

   Scrabble Points: 10

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