pretend

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the enactment of a pretense

   it was just pretend

2. 2
   verb

   put forward a claim and assert right or possession of

   pretend the title of King

3. 3
   verb

   To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.

   You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine.

4. 4
   verb

   To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).

   The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne.

5. 5
   verb

   To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.

   Lest that too heavenly form, pretended / To hellish falsehood, snare them.

6. 6
   verb

   To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.

   Such as shall pretend / Malicious practices against his state.

7. 7
   verb

   To hold before one; to extend.

   Pastorella […] Was by the Captaine all this while defended, / Who, minding more her safety then himselfe, / His target alwayes over her pretended[…].

8. 8
   adj

   Not really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned.

   As children we used to go on "spying" missions around the neighbour's house, but it was all pretend.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-der. Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae- Proto-Indo-European *ten- Proto-Indo-European *tend-der. Proto-Italic *tendō Latin tendō Latin praetendōbor. Anglo-Norman pretendreder. English pretend From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.