释义 |
pretend /pri-tendˈ/ transitive verb- To make believe
- To feign or affect (to be or do something)
- To imply, assert or claim falsely
- To claim to feel, profess falsely (eg friendship)
- To venture, attempt, undertake or be so bold as (to do something)
- To stretch forth, or in front (Spenser)
- To offer (obsolete)
- To purpose (obsolete)
- To indicate (obsolete)
intransitive verb- To feign
- To make believe
- To make claim (to eg expertise in something)
- To aspire (with to; archaic)
- To be a suitor (with to; archaic)
- To reach or go forward (obsolete)
adjective (informal or childish)Imaginary, make-believe ORIGIN: L praetendere to stretch forward, hold in front, allege, from prae before, and tendere, tentum, tēnsum to stretch pretenˈdant (or pretenˈdent) noun - A claimant
- A suitor
- A pretender
pretenˈded adjective pretenˈdedly adverb pretenˈder noun - A claimant, esp to a throne
- A candidate
- A suitor (obsolete)
- Someone who pretends
pretenˈdership noun pretenˈdingly adverb Old Pretender and Young Pretender Respectively the son and grandson of James II as claimants to the British throne |