prɪˈtend v. & adj. --v. 1 tr.
claim or
assert falsely so as to
deceive (pretend
knowledge; pretended
that they were foreigners). 2 tr.
imagine to
oneself in
play (pretended to be monsters; pretended it
was night). 3 tr. a
profess,
esp. falsely or extravagantly (does
not pretend to be a scholar). b (as pretended adj.) falsely claim to be
such (a pretended friend). 4 intr. (foll. by to) a lay claim to (a
right or
title etc.). b profess to
have (a
quality etc.). --adj. colloq. pretended; in
pretence (pretend money). [ME f. F pr÷tendre or f. L (as
PRAE-, tendere tent-, later tensstretch)]