Middle English Dictionary Entry
prētens(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prētens(e n. Also pretence. |
| Etymology | ML prētensio; cp. F (late 15th cent.) pretensse. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An assertion of a legal right, a claim; colour of ~, justification of a claim; (b) a statement, an allegation; (c) a stated ground or reason; under ~, on (that) basis; under ~ of colour, on the basis of a justification; (d) feigning; pretense; (e) a display; (f) a disguise; under ~ of, with the false appearance of (a true face); (g) symbolic meaning; (h) a purpose, an intention.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1141 : Kynges in her bed are slawe, Whiche bringeth in alyenacioun, By extort title fals successioun; Þer may colour of pretense seme, But ful streitly God shal after deme And iustly venge.
- (1425) Paston (EETS)1.3 : His pretense of his title to þe priourie of Bromholm is adnulled.
- (1433) RParl.4.441b : In a Bille..his clayme and pretense more pleinly is conteigned.
- (1436) Doc.Trade in BRS 766 : The seid ship..toke..the Cristofre, the whiche..had robbyd certeyn godes..wherfore in oure pretense, the seid ship cleped Cristofre shold be forfait to the Kyng.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1784 : Orapastes..hadde al Perse vnder his gouernaunce, Bi a ful fals pretens Off heritage.
- (1462-3) Paston (EETS)1.115 : And that the pretense and cleyme of the seid Jenney is that he schuld be infeffed with the seid Paston in the seid maner.
b
- (1440) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.425 : The sayde Robert, by the pretence and the supposel of his bille, supposyth that the seyde Willyam and Thomas Redehode..haueth rased and transposed the condicion of the seyde obligacion.
- (1452) Paston2.78 : In somuch as the same suggestion and surmission toucheth oure honneur, and the pretense therof shuld yeve vs occasion of greet noyse and charge, we certifie vnto you..þat we knewe neuere such feffement made.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.70 : Palladioun..Vlixes..vniustly doth possede..Vnder pretense of colour, falsly founde, Þat he þis relik reioisshe shulde ariȝt.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)242 : He was put oute of his lond, as he seide, be the Sarasines; and undir that pretens, he gadered mech good of Kingis and lordis.
- c1500 I muste go (Hnt EL 1160)7 : Thus am I banysshyd ffrom my blys by craft & false pretens, fautles with-out offens.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6079 : Þis large stede..Vnder pretence of oblacioun, Was complet..Þe same ȝere þat Troye was for-lore.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.870 : He hath anon founde anoþer weye..Vnder pretence, pleinly, of frendlyhede Comynge to hym ageyn a certeyn nyȝt.
e
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2553 : But froward rancour..Gaff hir a spirit of feyned pacience, A fals pretence of..magnificence.
f
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4786 : Vnder pretens of a trewe face, With his tale he gan to breken oute.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1067 : His entryng was meek..With a pretence off many woordes faire, In whos menyng was ful gret outrage.
g
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)661 : The armyd horss was token of batayle, And the grene olyve shewyth in his pretens Rest and pece.
h
- a1500 Whylome I present (BodPoet e.1)p.299 : For by her rygurus and crabyd violence, Preuentyd me sche hath of my pretence, Constreynyng me to fulfyll That repugnant is to my wyll.