pretensiveadj.

1607 [implied in: R. Parker Scholasticall Disc. against Antichrist i. i. 36 A stand against them, who pleade fiue things, against the sentence of abolition, for this grosse Idoll pretenciuely chaunged. (at pretensively adv.)].

1613 J. Stephens Cinthia's Revenge i. vii. sig. D2 Our Comædians To act some pithy and applauded Scœne, Wherewith to shadow my pretensiue zeale.

1640 H. Parker Case Shipmony 17 If danger..be far distant..though it bee certaine, and not pretensive, yet Parliamentary Aid may be speedy enough.

1658 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 213 It has been my fortune to make experience of a pretensive stay, which proved so unsteady, that [etc.].

1715 S. Whatley Short Hist. Warming-pan 6 Not withstanding the utter Impossibilities of the Queen's bringing forth, yet a Child (and that a Male too) must be had, which being only Pretensive, and not Real, must absolutely be attended with apparent and bare-faced Rogueries.

1769 A. Machay Pasquin II. v. 126 The specious gilding of an outside appearance, laid on him by pretensive freedom once removed, he appeared nothing but the basest metal.

1851 J. Kitto Daily Bible Illustr. (1867) VII. xxx. 112 The name [sc. Magism] covered all that was true, all that was pretensive, and all that was false, in the philosophy of the ancient Orientals.

1871 W. Whitman Democratic Vistas 64 Standing on this ground..we have peremptorily to dismiss every pretensive production, however fine its esthetic or intellectual points, which violates, or ignores, or even does not celebrate, the central Divine Idea of All.

1939 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 26 Mar. No grievance against the world I hold, If pretensive friendships have grown cold.

2003 Africa News (Nexis) 18 Nov. No doubt, there is need for the sanitisation of the Nigerian nation in all aspects, however, this cannot be achieved by sacrificing decorum on the altar of pretensive democracy.

a1868 C. Harpur Poet. Wks. (1984) 131 Again to Castle Carnal! the set place Of much vain speech, much riotous display, And fleshly feasting, and pretensive mirth.

1880 W. Whitman Daybks. & Notebks. (1978) III. 634 Along the banks as we steam rapidly little white houses seen through the verdure—occasionally a pretensive mansion, a mill, a two tower'd church.

1907 Blackwood's Mag. Jan. 120/2 Their ornament is hideously heavy and pretensive.

1953 E. Mittelholzer Life & Death of Sylvia 37 You too pretensive. Ah suppose you feel Henry ain' good enough company for you, na? His skin too dark.

1998 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Tribune (Nexis) 4 Sept. c1 Pretensive, presumptive and overall horrible. Find a better use for these walls. Offensive at best. Talentless at worst.