Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An obsolete form of pretension.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Archaic spelling of pretension.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • A reader sends along a copy of a breathless invitation that he received from Matthew Stadler, a Randy Gragg comrade in pretention and tortured artist-type gay author who puts together "presentations/symposia/bacchanals in Portland, Oregon, replete with food, drink, music, and general boisterousness garlanding the central pleasure of bright intellects voicing their excellent texts, winging it in conversation, and screening or presenting various textual and visual delights."

    Jack Bog's Blog: May 2009 Archives 2009

  • A reader sends along a copy of a breathless invitation that he received from Matthew Stadler, a Randy Gragg comrade in pretention and tortured artist-type gay author who puts together "presentations/symposia/bacchanals in Portland, Oregon, replete with food, drink, music, and general boisterousness garlanding the central pleasure of bright intellects voicing their excellent texts, winging it in conversation, and screening or presenting various textual and visual delights."

    Creep Suzette (Jack Bog's Blog) 2009

  • The media culture of pompous pretention is astounding to me.

    The dawn of News 2.0 « BuzzMachine 2005

  • The rationalistic approach is … characterized by the pretention to universality of its solutions, its intolerance of tradition and authority, quantification, simplification, and lack of flexibility.

    The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning HENRY MINTZBERG 1994

  • The rationalistic approach is … characterized by the pretention to universality of its solutions, its intolerance of tradition and authority, quantification, simplification, and lack of flexibility.

    The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning HENRY MINTZBERG 1994

  • Well, a reader has alerted me to a frame that's so devoid of marketing--indeed so devoid of any information whatsoever--that its very simplicity is the most offensive kind of pretention:

    Green With Envy: Destroy the Enemy, Save the World BikeSnobNYC 2009

  • Isn't looking down on pretentious people it's own kind of pretention?

    Unstoppable Factor: 3% 2005

  • The analogies were humorous and what felt even more refreshing was the adult approach to explanation without having to maintain the pretention of proper decorum in giving it the crystal clear punch it needed.

    Albures, or Dirty Spanish 101 2009

  • He has confidence and assurance in his credentials and accomplishments, not arrogance and pretention.

    Powell calls Palin a 'fascinating figure' 2009

  • The analogies were humorous and what felt even more refreshing was the adult approach to explanation without having to maintain the pretention of proper decorum in giving it the crystal clear punch it needed.

    Albures, or Dirty Spanish 101 2009

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