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   pretend

   /prɪˈtɛnd/

   verb

   • 1. behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not: "I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep" Similar make as ifprofessaffectdissimulatedissembleposepostureput it onput on a false frontgo through the motionsshamfake itinformal:kid
   • ▪ engage in an imaginative game or fantasy: "children pretending to be grown-ups" Similar put on an actmake believeplay atactplay-actpass oneself off asbluffimpersonate
   • ▪ give the appearance of feeling or possessing (an emotion or quality); simulate: "she pretended a greater surprise than she felt" Similar feignshamfakesimulateput oncounterfeitaffect
   • 2. lay claim to (a quality or title): "he cannot pretend to sophistication"

   adjective

   • 1. not really what it is represented as being; imaginary: informal "the children poured out pretend tea for the dolls"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin praetendere ‘stretch forth, claim’, from prae ‘before’ + tendere ‘stretch’. The adjective dates from the early 20th century.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • D

     2

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