[pre.ten.sion] n (15c) 1: an allegation of doubtful value: pretext
2: a claim or an effort to establish a claim
3: a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
4: an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment "has serious literary ~s"
5: vanity, pretentiousness syn see ambition -- pre.ten.sion.less adj
[2]pre.ten.sion vt [pre- +
[2]tension] (1937): prestress