Pre`sur*mise" (?), n. A surmise previously formed. Shak.
Pre`sys*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Preceding the systole or contraction
of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.
Pre*tem"po*ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the temporal bone.
Pre*tence" (?), n., Pre*tence"ful, a., Pre*tence"*less, a. See
Pretense, Pretenseful, Pretenseless.
Pre*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. prÈtendre, 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.
Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.
Dryden.
2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something
else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.]
Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare
them.
Milton.
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.
This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend
Surprisal.
Milton.