From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pretension \Pre*ten"sion\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]tention. See
Pretend, Tension.]
1. The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of
asserting right or title.
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The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed to
protract the discussion. --Macaulay.
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2. A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or
assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a
certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.
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This was but an invention and pretension given out
by the Spaniards. --Bacon.
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Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor
their pretensions. --L'Estrange.
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