Pre*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. pr'etendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See Tend, v. t. ]
1.
To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.
Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.
Dryden.
2.
To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
[R.]
Lest that too heavenly form, pretended
To hellish falsehood, snare them.
Milton.
3.
To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship.
This let him know,
Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisal.
Milton.
4.
To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.
[Obs.]
Such as shall pretend
Malicious practices against his state.
Shak.
5.
To hold before one; to extend.
[Obs.] "His target always over her
pretended."
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Pre*tend", v. i.
1.
To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to.
"Countries that
pretend to freedom."
Swift.
For to what fine he would anon pretend,
That know I well.
Chaucer.
2.
To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep.
"[He]
pretended to drink the waters."
Macaulay.
© Webster 1913.