| 释义 |
pretension
I. pre·ten·sion noun
also pre·ten·tion \prēˈtenchən, prə̇ˈ-\
(-s)
Etymology: pretension from Medieval Latin praetension-, praetensio, from Late Latin praetensus (Latin praetentus) (past participle of Latin praetendere to stretch forth, spread before, bring forward as an excuse, allege) + Latin -ion-, -io -ion; pretention from Medieval Latin praetention-, praetentio, from Latin praetentus (past participle of praetendere) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at pretend
1. : an assertion or declaration whose truth is questioned : an allegation of doubtful value : pretext
< this was but an invention and pretension given out by the Spaniards — Francis Bacon >
2. : a claim or an effort to establish a claim : formal demand for recognition of a title, right, or privilege
< pretension to the throne >
3. : a tacit, asserted, or obvious claim, right, or title : claim to attention, consideration, or honor because of real or alleged superiority, merit, or ability
< country estate of some pretensions >
< people of pretension to taste and culture >
4. : aspiration, intention
< serious pretensions as a writer >
5. : pretentiousness, vanity
< a quality of pretension and pseudoculture about the program that I found distasteful — Philip Hamburger >
< the class which has the pretensions and prejudices and habits of the rich without its money — G.B.Shaw >
II. pre·tension \(ˈ)prē+\ transitive verb
Etymology: pre- + tension
: to prestress (reinforced concrete) by subjecting the steel reinforcement to tension before the concrete hardens |