Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-TEND', v.t.¹ [L. prætendo; præ, before, and tendo, to tend, to reach or stretch; Fr. pretendre; It. pretendere; Sp. pretender.]

1. Literally, to reach or stretch forward; used by Dryden, but this use is not well authorized.
2. To hold out, as a false appearance; to offer something feigned instead of that which is real; to simulate, in words or actions. This let him know, / Lest willfully transgressing, he pretend / Surprisal. – Milton.
3. To show hypocritically; as, to pretend great zeal when the heart is not engaged; to pretend patriotism for the sake of gaining popular applause or obtaining an office.
4. To exhibit as a cover for something hidden. Lest that too heavenly form, pretended / To hellish falsehood, snare them. [Not in use.] – Milton.
5. To claim. Chiefs shall be grudg'd the part which they pretend. – Dryden. In this sense, we generally use pretend to.
6. To intend; to design. [Not used.] – Spenser.