adj.
Pronunciation: pri- ' tend
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pretendre, from Latin praetendere to allege as an excuse, literally, to stretch out, from prae- pre- + tendere to stretch ― more at THIN
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 : to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing <does not pretend to be a psychiatrist>
2 a : to make believe : FEIGN <he pretend ed deafness> b : to claim, represent, or assert falsely < pretend ing an emotion he could not really feel>
3 archaic : VENTURE , UNDERTAKE
intransitive verb
1 : to feign an action, part, or role especially in play
2 : to put in a claim <cannot pretend to any particular expertise ― Clive Barnes>
synonyms see ASSUME