'Pretence' definitions:

Definition of 'pretence'

From: WordNet
noun
A false or unsupportable quality [syn: pretension, pretense, pretence]
noun
An artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them" [syn: guise, pretense, pretence, pretext]
noun
Pretending with intention to deceive [syn: pretense, pretence, feigning, dissembling]
noun
Imaginative intellectual play [syn: pretense, pretence, make-believe]
noun
The act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending" [syn: pretense, pretence, pretending, simulation, feigning]

Definition of 'Pretence'

From: GCIDE
  • Pretense \Pre*tense"\, Pretence \Pre*tence\, n. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.]
  • 1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The act of holding out, or offering, to others something false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as, pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on pretense of revenging C[ae]sar's death. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint. [1913 Webster]
  • Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Intention; design. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • A very pretense and purpose of unkindness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: See the Note under Offense. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse.
  • Usage: Pretense, Pretext. A pretense is something held out as real when it is not so, thus falsifying the truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a bad sense. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Pretence'

From: GCIDE

Synonyms of 'pretence'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Pretence'