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pretend definition

pre·tend (prē tend′, pri-)

transitive verb

  1. to claim; profess; allege to pretend ignorance of the law
  2. to claim or profess falsely; feign; simulate to pretend anger
  3. to make believe, as in play to pretend to be astronauts

Etymology: ME pretenden, to intend < MFr pretendre < L praetendere, to hold forth, allege < prae-, before + tendere, to stretch: see thin

intransitive verb

  1. to lay claim to pretend to a throne
  2. to make believe in play or in an attempt to deceive; feign

adjective

Informal make-believe pretend jewelry

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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