pretender etymology

Etymology

The word "pretend" is derived from the Old French word "pretendre," which in turn comes from the Latin word "praetendere." "Praetendere" literally means "to stretch out or forth," and it was originally used in the legal context to refer to asserting a claim or right.

Meaning

In modern English, "pretend" has a variety of meanings, including:

• To make a false or illusory representation of something
• To assert or claim something without providing proof
• To feign or simulate an emotion or behavior
• To act as if something is true or real when it is not

Origin

The word "pretend" first appeared in English in the 14th century. It was initially used in the legal sense of asserting a claim or right, but it gradually acquired a wider range of meanings. By the 16th century, "pretend" was being used to refer to making false representations, claiming without proof, and simulating emotions or behaviors.

pretender relate terms

• pretend

  Pretend Etymology From Middle English pretenden meaning to claim or profess to be

• pretender

  Etymology The word pretend is derived from the Old French word pretendre which in tu

• pretended

  Pretended Etymology The word pretended is often mistakenly believed to be derived from

• phony

  Etymology The word phony likely originated from the Irish expression foinidh meanin

• sham

  Meaning A form of folk etymology in which a word s actual origin is incorrectly replaced

• quack

  Etymology Middle English quaaken quaken Old English cwacian Proto Germanic kwakō

• mountebank

  Etymology Mount Middle English To mount or climb Bank Middle English A heap pile

• renounce

  Etymology Origin Late Middle English in the sense abandon give up from Old Fr

• ringer

  Etymology Middle English ringen ringe from Old English hrīngan hringan Proto West

• teach

  Etymology Definition The study of the origin development and meaning of words Origin