pretension

Noun
Synonyms: pretensepretencepretentiousnesslargeness

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. a false or unsupportable qualitySynonyms: pretensepretence
  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)Synonyms: pretentiousnesslargeness
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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.[1913 Webster]
Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor their pretensions.— L'Estrange.[1913 Webster]
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