[pre.tend] vb [ME, fr. L praetendere to allege as an excuse, lit., to stretch out, fr. prae- pre- + tendere to stretch--more at thin] vt (15c) 1: to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing "does not ~ to be a psychiatrist"
2. a: to make believe: feign "he ~ed deafness" b: to claim, represent, or assert falsely "~ing an emotion he could not really feel" 3 archaic: venture, undertake ~ vi 1: to feign an action, part, or role in play
2: to put in a claim syn see assume
[2]pretend adj (1911): imaginary, make-believe