\Pre*tense"\, Pretence \Pre*tence\, n. [LL. praetensus,
for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See {Pretend}, and
cf. {Tension}.]
1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption;
   pretension. --Spenser.
         Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right
         of solely inheriting property or power. --Locke.
         I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to
         the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford. --Evelyn.
2. The act of holding out, or offering, to others something
   false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or
   hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and
   concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as,
   pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on
   pretense of revenging C[ae]sar's death.
3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical
   show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint.
         Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of
         proffered peace, delude the Latian prince. --Dryden.
4. Intention; design. [Obs.]
         A very pretense and purpose of unkindness. --Shak.
Note: See the {Note} under {Offense}.
Syn: Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse.
Usage: {Pretense}, {Pretext}. A pretense is something held
       out as real when it is not so, thus falsifying the
       truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to
       cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or
       reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a
       bad sense.