[pre.ten.tious] adj [F pretentieux, fr. pretention pretension, fr. ML praetention-, praetentio, fr. L praetendere] (1837) 1: characterized by pretension: as a: making usu. unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) "the ~ fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him --Richard Watts" b: expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature "~ language" "~ houses"
2: making demands on one's skill, ability, or means: ambitious "the ~ daring of the Green Mountain Boys in crossing the lake --Amer. Guide Series: Vt." syn see showy -- pre.ten.tious.ly adv -- pre.ten.tious.ness n