Pretend /(?)/

imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending

1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.

   Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.

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.

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.

4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.]

   Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state.

5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.]

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.

   For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well.

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.