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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pretended}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Pretending}.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F.
pr['e]tendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward,
pretend, simulate, assert; prae before tendere to stretch.
See {Tend}, v. t. ]
1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.
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Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.
--Dryden.
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2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for
something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
[R.]
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Lest that too heavenly form, pretended
To hellish falsehood, snare them. --Milton.
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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.
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This let him know,
Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisal. --Milton.
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4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.]
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Such as shall pretend
Malicious practices against his state. --Shak.
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5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.] "His target always
over her pretended." --Spenser.
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Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. i.
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. "Countries that pretend to freedom."
--Swift.
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For to what fine he would anon pretend,
That know I well. --Chaucer.
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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. "[He] pretended to
drink the waters." --Macaulay.
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