I. pri-ˈten(t)-shən noun
Date: 15th century
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 pretension s
5. : vanity , pretentiousness
Synonyms: see ambition
• pre·ten·sion·less -ləs adjective
II. ˌprē-ˈten(t)-shən transitive verb
Etymology: pre- + tension (II)
Date: 1937
: prestress