pretense etymology

Etymology of "Pretense":

• Latin: praetensus, past participle of praetendo "to stretch before, extend"
• Old French: pretense (13th century)
• Middle English: pretense (14th century)

Meaning and Origin:

"Pretense" originally meant "the act of extending or stretching out" (e.g., a limb or a wall). However, it later developed the figurative sense of "an outward appearance or show that conceals the true nature of something," which is the meaning it has today.

This shift in meaning occurred due to the following:

• Figurative Extension: The idea of "stretching out" was metaphorically extended to describe the act of creating a false appearance or facade.
• Hiding the True Nature: When something is stretched out, it can be used to cover or conceal something else. This led to the notion of "pretense" as a means of hiding the true nature of something.

Usage:

• "The politician's pretense of honesty was quickly revealed."
• "The company's earnings report was a pretense, hiding the true extent of its financial losses."
• "It's all pretense - they're not really friends."

Synonyms:

• Deception
• Fraud
• Guise
• Sham

pretense 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

• make believe

  Etymology The word makebelieve is a compound word from the words make and believe

• simulation

  Etymology and Origin The word simulation comes from the Latin word simulatio which m

• guise

  Etymology The word guise is derived from the Old French word guise which in turn is

• varnish

  Etymology The word varnish originates from the Old French word verniz which in turn

• affect

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word afficere meaning to do something to or to ha

• dissimulate

  Etymology From Middle French dissimuler from Latin dissimulare from dis apart si

• bravery

  Etymology The word bravery originates from the Old French word braverie which means

• semblance

  Etymology Middle English semblaunce from Anglo Norman French semblance from Old Fren

• deception

  Etymology Old French decepcion 13th century Latin deceptio act of deceiving decept

• masquerade

  Etymology The word masquerade derives from the Spanish term mascarada which emerged