also pretence, early 15c., "the putting forth of a claim," from Anglo-French pretensse, Middle French pretensse (Modern French prétense), from Medieval Latin noun use of fem. of Late Latin praetensus, altered from Latin praetentus, past participle of praetendere (see pretend). Meaning "false or hypocritical profession" is from 1540s.
中文解释
1. pre- + tens- + -e.2. 字面含义：stretch before, stretch beyond real condition.3. 这里的before其实是指伸展太过前，而超出了实际情况。由此引申为跟作假、欺骗、不切实际相关的含义。4. 由此引申为：假装；伪装；伪称，佯称；自命；自称等含义。5. 其实stretch本身就具有：夸大、夸张、夸大其词、言过其实、滥用、歪曲等含义，这本身就是对stretch伸展过度的一种引申；而这里只不过通过词根词缀的形式将其更加具体化、明确化。6. also pretence. 根据发音相同而出现的一种变体。
实用例句
1. It is merely a pretense.
这只是托词而已.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
2. You can't keep up the pretense any longer.
你无法继续伪装下去了.
来自辞典例句
3. He made a pretense of affection [ of being affectionate ] .
他假装有 情.
来自辞典例句
4. A canny bureaucratic infighter , Moorer made no pretense of academic subtlety.
穆勒是个机警的官场角逐者, 但他并不装作高深莫测.
来自辞典例句
5. A canny bureaucratic infighter , Moorer made as pretense of academic subtlety.