SG Heritage Dictionary

Pretend [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. Literally, to reach or stretch forward; used by Dryden, but this use is not well authorized.

2. To hold out, as a false appearance; to offer something feigned instead of that which is real; to simulate, in words or actions.

3. This let him know,

4. Lest willfully transgressing, he pretend

5. Surprisal.

6. To show hypocritically; as, to pretend great zeal when the heart is not engaged; to pretend patriotism for the sake of gaining popular applause or obtaining an office.

7. To exhibit as a cover for something hidden.

8. Lest that too heavenly form, pretended

9. To hellish falsehood, snare them. [Not in use.]

10. To claim.

11. Chiefs shall be grudg'd the part which they pretend

12. [In this we generally use pretend to.]

13. To intend; to design. [Not used.]

14. To put in a claim, truly or falsely; to hold out the appearance of being, possessing or performing. A man may pretend to be a physician, and pretend to perform great cures. Bad men often pretend to be patriots.

Pretend [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to.

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.

Pretend [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.

2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.

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.

4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.

5. To hold before one; to extend.

Pretendant [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A pretender; a claimant.

Pretended [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Ostensible; hypocritical; as a pretended reason or motive; pretended zeal.

Pretended [Participle passive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Held out, as a false appearance; feigned; simulated.

Pretended [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Making a false appearance; unreal; false; as, pretended friend.

Pretended [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Pretend

Pretendedly [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

By false appearance or representation.

Pretendence [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act of pretending; pretense.

Pretender [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. One who makes a show of something not real; one who lays claim to any thing.

2. In English history, the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who lays claim to the crown of Great Britain, but is excluded by law.

Pretender [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant.

2. The pretender (Eng. Hist.), the son or the grandson of James II., the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who laid claim to the throne of Great Britain, from which the house was excluded by law.

3. One who pretends, simulates, or feigns.

Pretendership [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

The right or claim of the Pretender.

Pretendership [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The character, right, or claim of a pretender.

Pretending [Participle present tense] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Holding out a false appearance; laying claim to, or attempting to make others believe one is what in truth he is not, or that he has or does something which he has or does not; making hypocritical professions.

Pretending [Present participle and verbal noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Pretend

Pretendingly [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Arrogantly; presumptuously.

Pretendingly [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

As by right or title; arrogantly; presumptuously.

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

2 KJV and 5 BSB verses contain “pretend”

2 Samuel 13:5

And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”

2 Samuel 14:2

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.

Proverbs 13:7

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Luke 20:20

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

Acts 27:30

And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.

Sirach 12:17

If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

2 Maccabees 5:25

Who coming to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, did forbear till the holy day of the sabbath, when taking the Jews keeping holy day, he commanded his men to arm themselves.