The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pretension \Pre*ten"sion\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]tention. See
   Pretend, Tension.]
   1. The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of
      asserting right or title.
      [1913 Webster]

            The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed to
            protract the discussion.              --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or
      assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a
      certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.
      [1913 Webster]

            This was but an invention and pretension given out
            by the Spaniards.                     --Bacon.
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            Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor
            their pretensions.                    --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pretension
    n 1: a false or unsupportable quality [syn: pretension,
         pretense, pretence]
    2: the advancing of a claim; "his pretension to the crown"; "the
       town still puts forward pretensions as a famous resort"
    3: the quality of being pretentious (behaving or speaking in
       such a manner as to create a false appearance of great
       importance or worth) [syn: pretentiousness, pretension,
       largeness] [ant: unpretentiousness]