Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pretext"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pretext \Pre"text\ (?; 277), n. [F. pr['e]texte, L. praetextum,
fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege
as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See {Text}.]
Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or
cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.
They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a
pretext of service and kindness. --L'Estrange.
With how much or how little pretext of reason. --Dr. H.
More.
Syn: Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See
{Pretense}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pretext
n 1: something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that
is concocted in order to conceal the real reason [syn: {stalking-horse}]
2: an artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of
friendship he betrayed them" [syn: {guise}, {pretense}, {pretence}]
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