01 v. t. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.
imp. & p. p.
Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pretending
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1.
To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.“Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.” — Dryden.
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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.” — Milton.
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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.” — Milton.
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4.
To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.[Obs.]“Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state.” — Shak.
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5.
To hold before one; to extend.[Obs.]