pretension

Definition

A claim or aspiration to a particular status or quality.

Etymology

From Middle English pretencioun, pretensioun, from Medieval Latin prētēnsiō.

Example Sentences

• "As a foreign stamp gazette it is nowhere. An article on Stamp Collecting, by J. E. Gray, “reprinted from one of his books,” and a catalogue of stamps constitute its sole attraction. We are surprised to find such sounding pretentions so poorly supported."

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