Main Entry: ¹pre·tend

Pronunciation: \pri-ˈtend\

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 pretended deafness> b : to claim, represent, or assert falsely <pretending an emotion he could not really feel>
3 archaic : venture, undertakeintransitive 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