pretence
/prɪˈtens/( <美> pretense)
noun
1
- an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true假装; 矫饰; 做作; 推托, 借口：
his anger is masked by a pretence that all is well
他装作若无其事, 掩饰了自己的怒意
mass noun they have finally abandoned their secrecy and pretence.他们最终放弃了保密和伪装。
1.1
- a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions虚伪, 虚假：
he asked me questions without any pretence at politeness.
他毫不客气地问我各种问题。
1.2
- mass noun the practice of inventing imaginary situations in play装扮游戏角色：
before the age of two, children start to engage in pretence.
孩子在两岁以前就开始装扮游戏角色了。
1.3
- mass noun affected and ostentatious speech and behaviour虚浮炫耀的语言（或行为）。
2
pretence to
a claim, especially a false or ambitious one自吹, 自诩, 自命：he was quick to disclaim any pretence to superiority.
他急忙否认自己以优越自居。
词源
late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French pretense, based on medieval Latin pretensus 'pretended'， alteration of Latin praetentus, from the verb praetendere （see PRETEND）.