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.
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.