The Wordsmith Dictionary

Pre `ter *mit ", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretermitted; p. pr. & vb. n.Pretermitting.] Etym: [L. praetermittere, praetermissum; praeter beyond + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

Defn: To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.

PRETERNATURAL

Pre `ter *nat "u *ral, a. Etym: [Pref. preter + natural. ]

Defn: Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth ) or labor. This vile and preternatural temper of mind. South.

Syn. -- See Supernatural.

PRETERNATURALISM

PRETERNATURALISM Pre `ter *nat "u *ral *ism, n.

Defn: The state of being preternatural; a preternatural condition.

PRETERNATURALITY

PRETERNATURALITY Pre `ter *nat `u *ral "i *ty, n.

Defn: Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

PRETERNATURALLY

PRETERNATURALLY Pre `ter *nat "u *ral *ly, adv.

Defn: In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.

PRETERNATURALNESS

PRETERNATURALNESS Pre `ter *nat "u *ral *ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being preternatural.

PRETERPERFECT

Pre `ter *per "fect, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + perfect. ] (Gram. )

Defn: Old name of the tense also called preterit.

PRETERPLUPERFECT

Pre `ter *plu "per `fect, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + pluperfect. ](Gram. )

Defn: Old name of the tense also called pluperfect.

PRETERTIARY

PRETERTIARY Pre *ter "ti *a *ry, a. (Geol.)

Defn: Earlier than Tertiary.

PRETERVECTION

Pre `ter *vec "tion, n. Etym: [L. praetervectio, fr. praetervehere to carry beyond. See Invection. ]

Defn: The act of carrying past or beyond. [R.] Abp. Potter.

PRETEX

Pre *tex ", v. t. Etym: [L. praetexere. See Pretext. ]

Defn: To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs. ]

PRETEXT

Pre "text, n. Etym: [F. prétexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p.of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text. ]

Defn: Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise. They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness. L'Estrange.With how much or how little pretext of reason. Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.

PRETEXTURE

PRETEXTURE Pre *tex "ture, n.

Defn: A pretext. [Obs. ]

PRETIBIAL

PRETIBIAL Pre *tib "i *al, a. (Anat. )

Defn: Situated in front of the tibia.

PRETOR

Pre "tor, n. Etym: [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue. ]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans.

Note: Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (praetor urbanus ) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other (praetor peregrinus ) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased.

2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [R.] Dryden.

PRETORIAL

PRETORIAL Pre *to "ri *al, a.

Defn: Pretorian. Burke.

PRETORIAN

Pre *to "ri *an, a. Etym: [L. praetorians: cf. F. prétorien.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority. Pretorian bands or guards, or Pretorians (Rom. Hist. ), the emperor's bodyguards, instituted by the Emperor Augustus in nine cohorts of 1, men each. -- Pretorian gate (Rom. Antiq.), that one of the four gates in a camp which lay next the enemy. Brande & C.

PRETORIAN

PRETORIAN Pre *to "ri *an, n.

Defn: A soldier of the pretorian guard.

PRETORIUM

Pre *to "ri *um, n. Etym: [L. praetorium, fr. praetor. ]

1. The general's tent in a Roman camp; hence, a council of war, because held in the general's tent.

2. The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat.

PRETORSHIP

PRETORSHIP Pre "tor *ship, n.

Defn: The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton

PRETORTURE

PRETORTURE Pre *tor "ture, v. t.

Defn: To torture beforehand. Fuller.

PRETTILY

PRETTILY Pret "ti *ly, adv.

Defn: In a pretty manner.

PRETTINESS

PRETTINESS Pret "ti *ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being pretty; -- used sometimes in a disparaging sense. A style. .. without sententious pretension or antithetical prettiness. Jeffrey.

PRETTY

Pret "ty, a. [Compar. Prettier; superl. Prettiest.] Etym: [OE. prati,AS. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice. ]

1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem. This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever Ran on the greensward. Shak.

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "Wavering a pretty while. " Evelyn.

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator.

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [Scot. ] [He ] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome.

PRETTY

PRETTY Pret "ty, adv.

Defn: In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather. Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury.

PRETTYISH

PRETTYISH Pret "ty *ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat pretty. Walpole.

PRETTYISM

PRETTYISM Pret "ty *ism, n.

Defn: Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [R.] Ed. Rev.

PRETTY-SPOKEN

PRETTY-SPOKEN Pret "ty-spo `ken, a.

Defn: Spoken or speaking prettily. [Colloq. ]

PRETYPIFY

Pre *typ "i *fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretypified; p. pr. & vb. n.Pretypifying. ]

Defn: To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Bp. Pearson.

PRETZEL

Pret "zel, n. Etym: [G. pretzel, bretzel. Cf. Bretzel. ]

Defn: A kind of German biscuit or cake in the form of a twisted ring, salted on the outside.

New American Oxford Dictionary

pret.

pret. ▶abbreviation preterite.

prêt-à-porter

prêt -à-por ter |ˌpret ä pôrˈtā ˈprɛt ɑ pɔrˌteɪ | ▶adjective (of designer clothes ) sold ready-to-wear as opposed to made to measure. ▶noun designer clothes sold ready-to-wear. ORIGIN French, literally ‘ready to wear. ’

pretax

pre tax |ˈprēˈtaks ˌpriˈtæks | ▶adjective (of income or profits ) considered or calculated before the deduction of taxes: pretax profits rose 23 percent.

preteen

pre teen |ˈprēˈtēn ˌpriˈtin | ▶adjective [ attrib. ] of or relating to a child just under the age of thirteen. ▶noun a child of such an age.

pretence

pre tence |prɪˈtens | ▶noun British spelling of pretense.

pretend

pre tend |priˈtend prəˈtɛnd | ▶verb 1 [ with clause or infinitive ] speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not: I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep | she turned the pages and pretended to read. • engage in a game or fantasy that involves supposing something that is not the case to be so: children pretending to be grown-ups. • [ with obj. ] give the appearance of feeling or possessing (an emotion or quality ); simulate: she pretended a greater surprise than she felt. 2 [ no obj. ] (pretend to ) lay claim to (a quality or title ): he cannot pretend to sophistication. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] informal not really what it is represented as being; used in a game or deception: the children are pouring out pretend tea for the dolls. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin praetendere ‘stretch forth, claim, ’ from prae ‘before ’ + tendere ‘stretch. ’ The adjective dates from the early 20th cent.

pretended

pre tend ed |priˈtendid prɪˈtendɪd | ▶adjective not genuine; assumed: she interrupted him with pretended indignation.

pretender

pre tend er |priˈtendər prəˈtɛndər | ▶noun a person who claims or aspires to a title or position: the pretender to the throne.

pretense

pre tense |ˈprēˌtens, priˈtens priˈtɛns |(Brit. pretence ) ▶noun 1 an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true: his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well | they have finally abandoned their secrecy and pretense. • a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions: he asked me questions without any pretense at politeness. • the practice of inventing imaginary situations in play: before the age of two, children start to engage in pretense. • affected and ostentatious speech and behavior. 2 (pretense to ) a claim, esp. a false or ambitious one: he was quick to disclaim any pretense to superiority. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French pretense, based on medieval Latin pretensus ‘pretended, ’ alteration of Latin praetentus, from the verb praetendere (see pretend ).

pretension

pre ten sion 1 |priˈtenCHən prəˈtɛn (t )ʃən | ▶noun 1 (pretension to ) a claim or the assertion of a claim to something: their pretensions to culture | we cannot tolerate pretension to infallibility. • (often pretensions ) an aspiration or claim to a certain status or quality: another aging rocker with literary pretensions. 2 the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness: he spoke simply, without pretension. ORIGIN late Middle English: from medieval Latin praetensio (n- ), from praetens- ‘alleged, ’ from the verb praetendere (see pretend ).

pretension

pre ten sion 2 |prēˈtenCHən prəˈtɛn (t )ʃən | ▶verb [ with obj. ] apply tension to (an object ) before some other process or event: the safety system pretensions the seat belts. • strengthen (reinforced concrete ) by applying tension to the reinforcing rods before the concrete has set.

pretensioner

pre ten sion er |prēˈtenCHənər priˈtɛntʃənər | ▶noun a device designed to pull a seat belt tight in an accident.

pretentious

pre ten tious |priˈtenCHəs prəˈtɛn (t )ʃəs | ▶adjective attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc. , than is actually possessed: a pretentious literary device. DERIVATIVES pre ten tious ly adverb, pre ten tious ness noun ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French prétentieux, from prétention (see pretension 1 ).

preter-

preter- ▶comb. form more than: preternatural. ORIGIN from Latin praeter ‘past, beyond. ’

preterite

pret er ite |ˈpretərit ˌprɛtərɪt |(also preterit ) Grammar ▶adjective expressing a past action or state. ▶noun a simple past tense or form. ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘bygone, former ’): from Latin praeteritus ‘gone by, ’ past participle of praeterire, from praeter ‘past, beyond ’ + ire ‘go. ’

preterition

pret er i tion |ˌpretəˈriSHən ˌprɛdəˈrɪʃən | ▶noun 1 the action of passing over or disregarding a matter, esp. the rhetorical technique of making summary mention of something by professing to omit it. 2 (in Calvinist theology ) omission from God's elect; nonelection to salvation. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from late Latin praeteritio (n- ), from praeterire ‘pass, go by. ’

preterm

pre term |prēˈtərm priˈtərm |Medicine ▶adjective born or occurring after a pregnancy significantly shorter than normal, esp. after no more than 37 weeks of pregnancy: babies born during preterm labor. ▶adverb after a short pregnancy; prematurely: babies born preterm are likely to lack surfactant in the lungs.

pretermit

pre ter mit |ˌprētərˈmit priˈtərmɪt | ▶verb ( pretermits, pretermitting, pretermitted ) [ with obj. ] archaic 1 omit to do or mention: some points of conduct we advisedly pretermit. 2 abandon (a custom or continuous action ) for a time: the pleasant musical evenings were now entirely pretermitted. DERIVATIVES pre ter mis sion |ˌprētərˈmiSHən |noun ORIGIN late 15th cent.: from Latin praetermittere, from praeter ‘past, beyond ’ + mittere ‘let go. ’

preternatural

pre ter nat u ral |ˌprētərˈnaCH (ə )rəl ˈˌpridərˈnætʃ (ə )rəl | ▶adjective beyond what is normal or natural: autumn had arrived with preternatural speed. DERIVATIVES pre ter nat u ral ism |-ˈnaCH (ə )rəˌlizəm |noun, pre ter nat u ral ly adverb

pretest

pre |test |ˈpriːtɛst | ▶noun a preliminary test or trial. ▶verb [ with obj. ] carry out a preliminary test or trial of: prior to its use, the questionnaire was pretested on two groups of trainees.

pretext

pre text |ˈprēˌtekst ˈpriˌtɛkst | ▶noun a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason: the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move. PHRASES on (or under ) the pretext giving the specified reason as one's justification: the police raided Grand River on the pretext of looking for moonshiners. ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from Latin praetextus ‘outward display, ’ from the verb praetexere ‘to disguise, ’ from prae ‘before ’ + texere ‘weave. ’

pretextual

pre tex tu al |prēˈteksCHo͞oəl priˈtɛkstʃuəl | ▶adjective Law denoting or relating to arrests or minor offenses that enable authorities to detain suspects for investigation of other matters. Ashcroft has justified the use of transparently pretextual charges to hold them.

pretor

pre tor |ˈprētər | ▶noun variant spelling of praetor.

Pretoria

Pre to ri a |prəˈtôrēə prəˈtɔriə | the administrative capital of South Africa; pop. 1,679,200 (est. 2009 ). It was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (1819 –1901 ), the first president of the South African Republic, and named after his father Andries.

pretorian

pre to ri an |priˈtôrēən | ▶adjective & noun variant spelling of praetorian.

pretreat

pre treat |prēˈtrēt priˈtrit | ▶verb [ with obj. ] treat (something ) with a chemical before use. DERIVATIVES pre treat ment noun

pretrial

pre |trial |priːˈtrʌɪəl | ▶adjective in or relating to the period before a judicial trial: a pretrial hearing.

prettify

pret ti fy |ˈpritəˌfī ˈprɪtifaɪ | ▶verb ( prettifies, prettifying, prettified ) [ with obj. ] make (someone or something ) appear superficially pretty or attractive: nothing has been done to prettify the site. DERIVATIVES pret ti fi ca tion |ˌpritəfəˈkāSHən |noun, pret ti fi er noun

pretty

pret ty |ˈpritē ˈprɪdi | ▶adjective ( prettier, prettiest ) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful or handsome: a pretty little girl with an engaging grin. • [ attrib. ] informal used ironically in expressions of annoyance or disgust: it is a pretty state of affairs when a young fellow prefers the company of Italian fiddlers to taking possession of his own first command. ▶adverb [ as submodifier ] informal to a moderately high degree; fairly: he looked pretty fit for his age. ▶noun ( pl. pretties ) informal an attractive thing, typically a pleasing but unnecessary accessory: he buys her lots of pretties —bangles and rings and things. • used to refer in a condescending way to an attractive person, usually a girl or a woman: six pretties in sequined leotards. ▶verb ( pretties, prettying, prettied ) [ with obj. ] make pretty or attractive: she'll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour. PHRASES pretty much (or nearly or well ) informal very nearly: the case is pretty well over. a pretty penny informal a large sum of money. pretty please used as an emphatic or wheedling form of request. be sitting pretty informal be in an advantageous position or situation: if she could get sponsors, she would be sitting pretty. DERIVATIVES pret ti ly |ˈpritl-ē |adverb, pret ti ness noun, pret ty ish adjective ORIGIN Old English prættig; related to Middle Dutch pertich ‘brisk, clever, ’ obsolete Dutch prettig ‘humorous, sporty, ’ from a West Germanic base meaning ‘trick. ’ The sense development ‘deceitful, cunning, clever, skillful, admirable, pleasing, nice ’ has parallels in adjectives such as canny, fine, nice, etc.

pretty boy

pret ty boy ▶noun informal, often derogatory a foppish or effeminate man.

pretzel

pret zel |ˈpretsəl ˈprɛtsəl | ▶noun a crisp biscuit baked in the form of a knot or stick and flavored with salt. ▶verb ( pretzels, pretzeling, pretzeled ) [ with obj. ] twist, bend, or contort: he found the snake pretzeled into a tangle of knots. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from German Pretzel .

Oxford Dictionary

pret.

pret. ▶abbreviation preterite.

prêt-à-porter

prêt -à-porter |ˌprɛtəˈpɔːteɪ | ▶noun [ mass noun ] designer clothes sold ready to wear rather than made to measure. ORIGIN French, literally ‘ready to wear ’.

pretence

pretence |prɪˈtɛns |(US pretense ) ▶noun 1 an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true: his anger is masked by a pretence that all is well | [ mass noun ] : they have finally abandoned their secrecy and pretence. • [ mass noun ] the practice of inventing imaginary situations in play: before the age of two, children start to engage in pretence. • [ mass noun ] affected and ostentatious speech and behaviour. 2 (pretence to ) a claim to have a particular skill or quality: he was quick to disclaim any pretence to superiority. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French pretense, based on medieval Latin pretensus ‘pretended ’, alteration of Latin praetentus, from the verb praetendere (see pretend ).

pretend

pre |tend |prɪˈtɛnd | ▶verb 1 [ with clause or infinitive ] behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not: I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep | she turned the pages and pretended to read. • engage in an imaginative game or fantasy: children pretending to be grown-ups. • [ with obj. ] give the appearance of feeling or possessing (an emotion or quality ); simulate: she pretended a greater surprise than she felt. 2 [ no obj. ] (pretend to ) lay claim to (a quality or title ): he cannot pretend to sophistication. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] informal not really what it is represented as being; imaginary: the children poured out pretend tea for the dolls. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin praetendere ‘stretch forth, claim ’, from prae ‘before ’ + tendere ‘stretch ’. The adjective dates from the early 20th cent.

pretended

pre |tend ¦ed |prɪˈtɛndɪd | ▶adjective not genuine; assumed: eating ice cream with pretended unconcern.

pretender

pre |tend ¦er |prɪˈtɛndə | ▶noun a person who claims or aspires to a title or position: the pretender to the throne.

pretense

pre |tense ▶noun US spelling of pretence.

pretension

pretension 1 |prɪˈtɛnʃ (ə )n | ▶noun 1 (pretension to ) a claim or assertion of a claim to something: his pretensions to the imperial inheritance | [ mass noun ] : all that we cannot tolerate is pretension to infallibility. • (often pretensions ) a claim or aspiration to a particular quality: another ageing rocker with literary pretensions. 2 [ mass noun ] the use of affectation to impress; pretentiousness: he spoke simply, without pretension. ORIGIN late Middle English: from medieval Latin praetensio (n- ), from praetens- ‘alleged ’, from the verb praetendere (see pretend ).

pretentious

pre ¦ten |tious |prɪˈtɛnʃəs | ▶adjective attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed: pretentious art films | the pretentious jargon of wine experts. DERIVATIVES pretentiously adverb, pretentiousness noun ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French prétentieux, from prétention (see pretension 1 ).

preter-

preter- |ˈpriːtə | ▶combining form more than: preternatural. ORIGIN from Latin praeter ‘past, beyond ’.

preterite

preterite |ˈprɛt (ə )rɪt |(US also preterit ) Grammar ▶adjective expressing a past action or state. ▶noun a simple past tense or form. ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘bygone, former ’): from Latin praeteritus ‘gone by ’, past participle of praeterire, from praeter ‘past, beyond ’ + ire ‘go ’.

preterition

preterition |ˌpriːtəˈrɪʃ (ə )n | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the action of passing over or disregarding a matter, especially the rhetorical technique of making summary mention of something by professing to omit it. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from late Latin praeteritio (n- ), from praeterire ‘pass, go by ’.

preterm

preterm |priːˈtəːm |Medicine ▶adjective born or occurring after a pregnancy significantly shorter than normal, especially after no more than 37 weeks of pregnancy. ▶adverb after a short pregnancy; prematurely: babies born preterm are likely to lack surfactant in the lungs.

pretermit

pretermit |ˌpriːtəˈmɪt | ▶verb ( pretermits, pretermitting, pretermitted ) [ with obj. ] archaic 1 omit to do or mention: some points of conduct we advisedly pretermit. 2 abandon (a custom or continuous action ) for a time: the pleasant musical evenings were now entirely pretermitted. DERIVATIVES pretermission |-ˈmɪʃ (ə )n |noun ORIGIN late 15th cent.: from Latin praetermittere, from praeter ‘past, beyond ’ + mittere ‘let go ’.

preternatural

preternatural |ˌpriːtəˈnatʃ (ə )r (ə )l |(also praeternatural ) ▶adjective beyond what is normal or natural: autumn had arrived with preternatural speed. DERIVATIVES preternaturalism noun, preternaturally adverb

pretest

pretext

pre |text |ˈpriːtɛkst | ▶noun a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason: the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move | he called round on the pretext of asking after her mother. ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from Latin praetextus ‘outward display ’, from the verb praetexere ‘to disguise ’, from prae ‘before ’ + texere ‘weave ’.

pretextual

pretor

pre ¦tor ▶noun US spelling of praetor.

Pretoria

Pretoria |prɪˈtɔːrɪə | the administrative capital of South Africa; pop. 1,679,200 (est. 2009 ). It was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (1819 –1901 ), the first President of the South African Republic, and named after his father Andries.

pretorian

pre ¦tor |ian ▶adjective & noun US spelling of praetorian.

Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging

Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging |fəˈriːnɪkɪŋ | former name (until 1995 ) for Gauteng.

pretreat

pre |treat |priːˈtriːt | ▶verb [ with obj. ] treat (something ) with a chemical before use. DERIVATIVES pretreatment noun

pretrial

pre |trial |priːˈtrʌɪəl | ▶adjective in or relating to the period before a judicial trial: a pretrial hearing.

prettify

pret |tify |ˈprɪtɪfʌɪ | ▶verb ( prettifies, prettifying, prettified ) [ with obj. ] make (someone or something ) appear superficially pretty or attractive: nothing has been done to prettify the site. DERIVATIVES prettification |-fɪˈkeɪʃ (ə )n |noun, prettifier noun

pretty

pretty |ˈprɪti | ▶adjective ( prettier, prettiest ) 1 (of a person, especially a woman or child ) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful: a pretty little girl with an engaging grin. • (of a thing ) pleasing to the eye or the ear: a pretty summer dress. 2 [ attrib. ] informal used ironically to express annoyance or displeasure: he led me a pretty dance. ▶adverb [ as submodifier ] informal to a moderately high degree; fairly: he looked pretty fit for his age. ▶noun ( pl. pretties ) informal an attractive thing, especially a trinket: he buys her lots of pretties —bangles and rings. • used to refer in a condescending way to an attractive person: six pretties in sequined leotards. ▶verb ( pretties, prettying, prettied ) [ with obj. ] make pretty or attractive: she'll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour. PHRASES pretty much (or nearly or well ) informal very nearly: the case is pretty well over. a pretty penny informal a large sum of money. pretty please used as a wheedling form of request. be sitting pretty informal be in an advantageous situation: if she could get sponsors, she would be sitting pretty. DERIVATIVES prettily adverb, prettiness noun, prettyish adjective ORIGIN Old English prættig; related to Middle Dutch pertich ‘brisk, clever ’, obsolete Dutch prettig ‘humorous, sporty ’, from a West Germanic base meaning ‘trick ’. The sense development ‘deceitful, cunning, clever, skilful, admirable, pleasing, nice ’ has parallels in adjectives such as canny, fine, nice, etc.

pretty boy

pretty boy ▶noun informal, often derogatory a foppish or effeminate man.

pretty-face wallaby

pretty-face wal |laby ▶noun another term for whiptail wallaby.

pretzel

pretzel |ˈprɛts (ə )l | ▶noun a crisp biscuit baked in the form of a knot or stick and flavoured with salt. ▶verb ( pretzels, pretzeling, pretzeled ) [ with obj. ] N. Amer. twist, bend, or contort: he found the snake pretzeled into a tangle of knots. ORIGIN mid 19th cent. (originally US ): from German Pretzel .

American Oxford Thesaurus

pretend

pretend verb 1 they just pretend to listen: make as if, profess, affect; dissimulate, dissemble, put it on, put on a false front, go through the motions, sham, fake it. 2 I'll pretend to be the dragon: put on an act as, make believe one is, play at being, act (the part of ), play-act (the part of ), impersonate. 3 it was useless to pretend innocence: feign, sham, fake, simulate, put on, counterfeit, affect. 4 he cannot pretend to sophistication: claim, lay claim to, purport to have, profess to have. ▶adjective informal a pretend conversation: imaginary, imagined, pretended, make-believe, made-up, fantasy, fantasized, dreamed-up, unreal, invented, fictitious, mythical, feigned, fake, mock, sham, simulated, artificial, ersatz, false, pseudo; informal phony.

pretended

pretended adjective pretended tears: fake, faked, affected, assumed, professed, spurious, mock, imitation, simulated, make-believe, pseudo, sham, false, bogus; informal pretend, phony.

pretender

pretender noun a pretender to the throne: claimant, aspirant.

pretense

pretense noun 1 cease this pretense: make-believe, putting on an act, acting, dissembling, shamming, faking, feigning, simulation, dissimulation, play-acting, posturing; deception, deceit, deceitfulness, fraud, fraudulence, duplicity, subterfuge, trickery, dishonesty, hypocrisy, falsity, lying, mendacity. ANTONYMS honesty. 2 he made a pretense of being unconcerned: (false ) show, semblance, affectation, (false ) appearance, outward appearance, impression, (false ) front, guise, facade, display. 3 she had dropped any pretense to faith: claim, profession. 4 he was absolutely without pretense: pretentiousness, display, ostentation, affectation, showiness, posturing, humbug.

pretension

pretension noun 1 the author has no pretension to exhaustive coverage: aspiration, claim, assertion, pretense, profession. 2 she spoke without pretension: pretentiousness, affectation, ostentation, artificiality, airs, posing, posturing, show, flashiness; pomposity, pompousness, grandiosity, grandiloquence, magniloquence.

pretentious

pretentious adjective Clytemnestra is a pretentious name for a dog: affected, ostentatious, showy; overambitious, pompous, artificial, inflated, overblown, high-sounding, flowery, grandiose, elaborate, extravagant, flamboyant, ornate, grandiloquent, magniloquent, sophomoric; informal flashy, highfalutin, la-di-da, pseudo.

preternatural

preternatural adjective autumn had arrived with preternatural speed: extraordinary, exceptional, unusual, uncommon, singular, unprecedented, remarkable, phenomenal, abnormal, inexplicable, unaccountable; strange, mysterious, fantastic.

pretext

pretext noun he used the pretext of looking for his dog to come into our yard: excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason; guise, ploy, pretense, ruse.

prettify

prettify verb plans to prettify Main Street: beautify, make attractive, make pretty, spruce up, adorn, ornament, decorate, smarten (up ); informal doll up, do up, give something a facelift, titivate.

pretty

pretty adjective a pretty child: attractive, lovely, good-looking, nice-looking, personable, fetching, prepossessing, appealing, charming, delightful, cute, as pretty as a picture; Scottish bonny; informal easy on the eye; literary beauteous; archaic fair, comely. ANTONYMS plain, ugly. ▶adverb a pretty large sum: quite, rather, somewhat, fairly, reasonably, comparatively, relatively. ▶verb she's prettying herself up : beautify, make attractive, make pretty, prettify, adorn, ornament, smarten; informal do oneself up, titivate.

Oxford Thesaurus

pretence

pretence noun 1 cease this pretence and be true to yourself: make-believe, act, putting on an act, acting, dissembling, shamming, sham, faking, feigning, simulation, falsification, dissimulation, invention, imagination, self-deception, play-acting, posturing, posture, posing, pose, cant, attitudinizing; deception, deceit, deceitfulness, fraud, hoax, fraudulence, fabrication, duplicity, artifice, subterfuge, treachery, trickery, dishonesty, hypocrisy, falsity, lying, mendacity, lack of veracity; Brit. false colours; informal kidology; rare simulacrum. ANTONYMS reality; honesty. 2 he made a pretence of being unconcerned: false show, show, semblance, affectation, false appearance, appearance, outward appearance, impression, image, front, false front, guise, colour, facade, display, posture, pose, masquerade, mask, cloak, veil, veneer, smokescreen, camouflage, cover, travesty, parody, charade; archaic snivel. 3 she herself had long since dropped any pretence to faith: claim, aspiration, purporting, profession. 4 he was absolutely without pretence: pretentiousness, display, ostentation, affectation, showiness, flaunting, posturing, posing, humbug. 5 he abducted the queen on the pretence of seeking to protect her: pretext, false excuse, guise, sham, ruse, wile, trickery; lie, falsehood.

pretend

pretend verb 1 they just pretend to listen: make as if, profess, affect; dissimulate, dissemble, pose, posture, put it on, put on a false front, go through the motions, sham, fake it; informal kid. 2 if you like, I'll pretend to be the dragon: put on an act, make believe, play at, act, play-act, pass oneself off as, bluff, impersonate. 3 it was useless to pretend innocence: feign, sham, fake, simulate, put on, counterfeit, affect. 4 he did not even pretend to a crushing burden of work: claim, lay claim to, make a claim to, purport to have, profess to have, go through the motions of having. ▶adjective informal she picked up the phone and had a pretend conversation: imaginary, imagined, pretended, make-believe, made-up, fantasy, fantasized, fancied, dream, dreamed-up, unreal, fanciful, invented, fictitious, fictive, mythical, feigned, fake, mock, imitative, sham, simulated, artificial, ersatz, dummy, false, faux, spurious, bogus, counterfeit, fraudulent, forged, pseudo; informal phoney; S. African informal play-play.

pretended

pretended adjective her eyes widened in pretended astonishment: fake, faked, affected, assumed, professed, purported, spurious, ostensible, quasi-, contrived, in name only; insincere, hypocritical, mock, imitation, simulated, so-called, make-believe, pseudo, sham, false, bogus; counterfeit, fraudulent, forged; informal pretend, phoney.

pretender

pretender noun a pretender to the throne: claimant, aspirant, claimer.

pretension

pretension noun 1 the author firmly denies any pretension to exhaustive coverage | literary pretensions: aspiration, claim, assertion, pretence, profession, purporting. 2 I dislike the pretension of her style: pretentiousness, affectation, affectedness, ostentation, ostentatiousness, artificiality, attitudinizing, airs, posing, posturing, showing off, hypocrisy, snobbery, show, flashiness; pomposity, pompousness, floweriness, grandiosity, grandness, grandiloquence, magniloquence, elaborateness, extravagance, heroics, flamboyance, ornateness, bombast, turgidity, rhetoric, pedantry; informal la-di-da; Brit. informal side; Austral. /NZ informal guyver; rare fustian, flatulence.

pretentious

pretentious adjective Clytemnestra is a pretentious name for a dog: affected, ostentatious, chichi, showy, flashy, tinselly, conspicuous, flaunty, tasteless, kitschy; overambitious, pompous, artificial, flatulent, inflated, overblown, fustian, hyperventilated, mannered, high-flown, high-sounding, flowery, grandiose, big, grand, elaborate, extravagant, heroic, flamboyant, ornate, grandiloquent, magniloquent, bombastic, turgid, orotund, rhetorical, oratorical; N. Amer. sophomoric; informal highfalutin, la-di-da, fancy-pants, posey, pseud, pseudo; Brit. informal poncey, toffee-nosed; US black English dicty. ANTONYMS natural, unaffected.

preternatural

preternatural adjective autumn had arrived with preternatural speed: extraordinary, out of the ordinary, exceptional, unusual, uncommon, rare, singular, signal, peculiar, unprecedented, outstanding, remarkable, phenomenal, abnormal, anomalous, inexplicable, unaccountable; supernatural, paranormal, mystical, unearthly, unworldly, other-worldly, fantastic, magical, prodigious, wonderful, wondrous, miraculous; strange, mysterious, odd, weird.

pretext

pretext noun he called at her house on the pretext of enquiring after Mr Bradshaw: excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, plea, supposed grounds; guise, ploy, pretence, ruse, semblance, show, blind, pose, masquerade, mask, cloak, veil, veneer, smokescreen, camouflage, cover, travesty, parody, charade.

prettify

prettify verb the landscape had been tamed and weakened by man's attempts to prettify nature: beautify, make attractive, make pretty, pretty up, titivate, dress up, adorn, ornament, embellish, trick out, decorate, smarten (up ), glamorize, prink, preen, primp; informal doll up, do up, give something a facelift; Brit. informal tart up. ANTONYMS uglify.

pretty

pretty adjective a pretty child: attractive, lovely, good-looking, nice-looking, fetching, prepossessing, appealing, charming, delightful, nice, engaging, pleasing; darling, sweet, dear, adorable, lovable; winning, winsome, cute, as pretty as a picture, dainty, graceful; handsome, well favoured, personable, beautiful, glamorous, gorgeous, ravishing, stunning, bewitching, alluring; chocolate-box; Scottish & N. English bonny; informal easy on the eye; literary beauteous; archaic fair, comely. ANTONYMS plain; ugly. PHRASES pretty penny informal it must have cost a pretty penny to lure this talented actor back: a huge amount, a small fortune, a king's ransom, a vast sum, a large sum of money, a lot, a fortune, millions, billions; informal a packet, a mint, a bundle, a pile, a wad, an arm and a leg, a tidy sum, a killing; Brit. informal a bomb, loadsamoney, shedloads; N. Amer. informal big bucks, big money, gazillions; Austral. informal big bickies. ▶adverb a pretty large sum of money: quite, rather, somewhat, fairly, reasonably, moderately, comparatively, relatively, tolerably, passably, adequately, satisfactorily, decently, respectably; informal kind of, sort of. PHRASES pretty much /well informal by mid-October the growing season is pretty much complete | his old cloth cap was pretty well worn out: nearly, almost, just about, about, more or less, practically, virtually, all but, as good as, next to, close to, near, nigh on, not far from, not far off, to all intents and purposes, approaching, bordering on, verging on, nearing; roughly, approximately; not quite; informal pretty nearly; literary well-nigh. ▶verb she's prettying herself: beautify, make attractive, make pretty, prettify, pretty up, adorn, ornament, embellish, smarten, glamorize, prink, preen, primp; put make-up on; informal do oneself up; Brit. informal tart oneself up.

Duden Dictionary

Prêt-à-porter

Prêt -à-por ter Substantiv, Neutrum , das |prɛtapɔrˈteː |das Prêt -à-porter; Genitiv: des Prêt -à-porters, Plural: die Prêt -à-porters französisch prêt -à-porter, eigentlich = fertig zum Tragen a ohne Plural Konfektionskleidung nach dem Entwurf von Modeschöpfer [inne ]n b Konfektionskleid nach dem Entwurf eines Modeschöpfers, einer Modeschöpferin

Pretest

Pre test Substantiv, maskulin Soziologie , der |ˈpriː …|der Pretest; Genitiv: des Pretests, Plural: die Pretests lateinisch-englisch Erprobung eines Mittels für Untersuchungen o. Ä. (z. B. eines Fragebogens ) vor der Durchführung der eigentlichen Erhebung; Vortest

pretial

pre ti al Adjektiv Wirtschaft |preti a l |lateinisch vom Preis her erfolgend, geldmäßig

Pretoria

Pre to ria Eigenname |Pret o ria |Hauptstadt der Republik Südafrika; vgl. Tshwane

French Dictionary

prêt

prêt prête adj. adjectif Dont la préparation est terminée. : Venez, les enfants, le déjeuner est prêt! SYNONYME préparé . LOCUTIONS Fin prêt. Tout à fait prêt. : Elles étaient fin prêtes. Note Technique Dans cet emploi adverbial, le mot fin est invariable. Prêt à. Disposé à, décidé à. : Ils sont prêts à vous suivre.

prêt

prêt n. m. nom masculin 1 Action de prêter. : Le prêt d ’une voiture. 2 Somme prêtée pendant un certain temps. : La banque consent des prêts à un taux de 10 \% par an. Un prêt hypothécaire. ANTONYME emprunt . Note Technique Le terme anglais « loan » désigne le prêt et l ’emprunt, alors que le français dispose de deux noms distincts: prêt (somme prêtée ) et emprunt (somme empruntée ).

prêt-à-monter

prêt -à-monter n. m. (pl. prêts -à-monter ) Ensemble de pièces ou d ’éléments détachés vendu avec un plan de montage de l ’objet que l ’acheteur peut assembler lui-même (GDT ). Note Technique Le terme prêt -à-monter a fait l ’objet d ’une recommandation officielle en France pour remplacer l ’emprunt à l ’anglais kit.

prêt-à-porter

prêt -à-porter n. m. (pl. prêts -à-porter ) nom masculin Ensemble des vêtements de confection. ANTONYME sur mesure .

prétendant

prétendant , ante n. m. et f. nom masculin et féminin vieilli Personne qui aspire à la main d ’une femme, d ’un homme. : Ce charmant jeune homme ne manque pas de prétendantes.

prétendre

prétendre v. tr. , pronom. verbe transitif direct Soutenir. : Il prétend qu ’on lui a volé sa voiture. SYNONYME affirmer ; alléguer ; déclarer ; dire . Note Syntaxique Le verbe se construit à l ’indicatif dans une tournure affirmative. Dans une tournure négative, il se construit avec le subjonctif. Il ne prétend pas qu ’on lui ait volé sa voiture. verbe transitif indirect littéraire Souhaiter, désirer. : Cette personne peut prétendre à la direction. SYNONYME aspirer à ; viser ; vouloir . Note Syntaxique En ce sens, le verbe se construit avec la préposition à. verbe pronominal Se dire. : Il se prétend avocat, mais je doute que ce soit vrai. SYNONYME déclarer . Note Grammaticale À la forme pronominale, le participe passé de ce verbe s ’accorde toujours en genre et en nombre avec son sujet. Elle s ’est prétendue vétérinaire, mais ce n ’était pas le cas. fendre INDICATIF PRÉSENT Je prétends, tu prétends, il prétend, nous prétendons, vous prétendez, ils prétendent. IMPARFAIT Je prétendais. PASSÉ SIMPLE Je prétendis. FUTUR Je prétendrai. CONDITIONNEL PRÉSENT Je prétendrais. IMPÉRATIF PRÉSENT Prétends, prétendons, prétendez. SUBJONCTIF PRÉSENT Que je prétende. IMPARFAIT Que je prétendisse. PARTICIPE PRÉSENT Prétendant. PASSÉ Prétendu, ue.

prétendu

prétendu , ue adj. adjectif Supposé, présumé, mais non sûr. : C ’est un prétendu guérisseur. SYNONYME soi-disant .

prétendument

prétendument adv. adverbe Soi-disant. : Elle est prétendument clairvoyante. SYNONYME faussement .

prête-nom

prête -nom n. m. (pl. prête -noms ) nom masculin Mandataire qui agit pour le véritable contractant.

prétentaine

prétentaine ou prétantaine n. f. nom féminin Courir la prétentaine, la prétantaine. vieilli Être à la recherche d ’aventures galantes. Note Technique Le mot ne s ’emploie que dans cette locution.

prétentieusement

prétentieusement adv. adverbe D ’une manière prétentieuse. : Il roule prétentieusement dans sa grosse voiture.

prétentieux

prétentieux , ieuse adj. et n. m. et f. adjectif et nom masculin et féminin Vaniteux, arrogant, qui prétend être ce qu ’il n ’est pas. : Cette personne est prétentieuse. La sottise de ces prétentieux est exaspérante. SYNONYME fat ; infatué ; suffisant . Note Orthographique prétentieu x.

prétention

prétention n. f. nom féminin 1 Droit de prétendre à quelque chose. : J ’ai la prétention de penser que l ’on examinera les candidatures de façon impartiale. 2 Ambition. : Cette personne a la prétention de diriger le service. SYNONYME dessein ; visée . 3 péjoratif Vanité. : Il parle avec prétention. SYNONYME affectation ; fatuité . LOCUTION Sans prétention (s ), sans aucune prétention. Très simple. : Venez dîner, ce sera sans prétention ou sans prétentions. SYNONYME à la bonne franquette ; sans cérémonie .

prêter

prêter v. tr. , pronom. verbe transitif direct 1 Mettre quelque chose à la disposition de quelqu ’un pour un certain temps. : Prête -moi ton manteau. Olivier lui a prêté 1 $. ANTONYME emprunter . 2 Attribuer. : On lui prête des intentions cachées. SYNONYME donner ; imputer ; supposer . verbe transitif indirect Donner lieu à. : Cette phrase prête à confusion: elle est difficile à comprendre. SYNONYME donner matière à . verbe pronominal 1 Être prêté. : Actuellement, l ’argent se prête à 10 \% par an. 2 Consentir. : Ne vous prêtez pas à cette farce. SYNONYME accepter . 3 Être propice à. : Avec cette belle neige qui vient de tomber, le temps se prête au ski aujourd ’hui. SYNONYME convenir à . Note Grammaticale À la forme pronominale, le participe passé de ce verbe s ’accorde toujours en genre et en nombre avec son sujet. Les deux amis se sont prêtés au jeu. LOCUTIONS Prêter attention à. Être attentif. : Elle prête attention à ces conseils. Prêter le flanc à. figuré Donner prise à. : Cette nomination ne doit pas prêter le flanc (et non *prêter flanc ) à la contestation: elle doit être incontestable. Prêter l ’oreille. Écouter attentivement. Prêter main-forte. Aider. : Allons leur prêter main-forte pour nettoyer le jardin. aimer

prêteur

prêteur , euse n. m. et f. nom masculin et féminin Personne qui consent un prêt. ANTONYME emprunteur . Prêteur, prêteuse sur gage. Personne qui accorde des prêts moyennant la remise en gage de biens qu ’elle gardera en sa possession ou vendra si l ’emprunteur ne respecte pas son engagement de rembourser dans le délai fixé (GDT ).

prétexte

prétexte n. m. nom masculin Motif apparent dont on se sert pour cacher la véritable raison. : Il nous donna comme prétexte qu ’il avait du travail et il refusa de venir nous aider. SYNONYME échappatoire ; excuse . LOCUTIONS Être prétexte à. : Les vacances sont prétexte à de belles excursions. SYNONYME être l ’occasion de . Note Grammaticale Dans cette expression, le nom peut se mettre au pluriel si l ’on considère une pluralité de prétextes. Ces réunions sont prétextes à des échanges professionnels et à des rencontres agréables. Sous aucun prétexte À aucun prix. : N ’ouvrez la porte sous aucun prétexte: un prisonnier en fuite est dans les parages! SYNONYME en aucun cas . Sous prétexte de En invoquant comme raison. : Sous prétexte de nous consulter, il est venu nous exposer son point de vue. Note Syntaxique La locution prépositive est suivie d ’un nom ou d ’un verbe à l ’infinitif. Sous (le ) prétexte que En prétendant que. : lI fut congédié sous prétexte qu ’il n ’était pas impartial. Note Syntaxique La locution conjonctive est suivie d ’un verbe à l ’indicatif. FORME FAUTIVE sous un faux prétexte. Calque de « under false pretences » pour sous le prétexte, sous le faux motif de.

prétexter

prétexter v. tr. verbe transitif Donner pour prétexte. : Il a prétexté une douleur à l ’épaule pour ne pas jouer. SYNONYME alléguer ; invoquer . aimer

prétoire

prétoire n. m. nom masculin littéraire Tribunal.

prétraité

prétraité , ée adj. adjectif Qui a été traité avant d ’être utilisé. : Du bois prétraité.

prêtre

prêtre n. m. nom masculin Membre du clergé. : Le prêtre célèbre la messe et baptise le nouveau-né. Note Orthographique pr ê tre.

prêtrise

prêtrise n. f. nom féminin Fonction de prêtre dans l ’Église catholique. Note Orthographique pr ê trise.

pretzel

pretzel FORME FAUTIVE Anglicisme pour bretzel.

Spanish Dictionary

prêt-à-porter

prêt -à-porter adjetivo /nombre masculino [ropa ] Que está confeccionado en serie según unas medidas o tallas predeterminadas que se acomodan a un gran número de personas :no se empezó a hablar de prêt -à-porter hasta mediados del siglo xx, cuando a las camisas y corbatas de confección se le sumaron trajes y vestidos .Se pronuncia ‘pret-a-porté ’.

pretemporada

pretemporada nombre femenino Período que precede al comienzo de una temporada deportiva, durante el que se realizan torneos y competiciones amistosas, generalmente como preparación a la temporada :durante la pretemporada se organizó un torneo amistoso de fútbol .

pretencioso, -sa

pretencioso, -sa adjetivo 1 despectivo [persona ] Que presume y alardea de sus cualidades o pretende ser algo que no es :aspiro a no ser demasiado injusto o pretencioso si digo que tengo en común con los filósofos el amor al saber; los protagonistas son pretenciosos, se vanaglorian de méritos que no son tales .SINÓNIMO pretensioso .2 despectivo Que es propio de la persona pretenciosa :carácter pretencioso; ademanes pretenciosos; ha vuelto con un aire pretencioso que no se le conocía .SINÓNIMO pretensioso .3 despectivo Que pretende causar impresión de lujo, grandeza o importancia :sus palabras suenan a manual de sociología, a pretenciosas interpretaciones del mundo; con ese arranque dramático y pretencioso comienza este drama de buenos y malos, que recoge tópicos del viejo teatro de los años cincuenta con el barniz de la droga para adecuarlo a los tiempos que corren .SINÓNIMO pretensioso .ETIMOLOGÍA Préstamo (s. xix ) del francés prétentieux , derivado de prétendre (V. pretender ). De la familia etimológica de tender (V.).

pretender

pretender verbo transitivo 1 Querer una cosa que es considerada difícil o exagerada y esforzarse o emplear los medios necesarios para conseguirla :pretende que acabemos el trabajo antes del fin de semana; pretenden prolongar el encauzamiento del río para evitar inundaciones .2 Querer una cosa a la cual se considera tener derecho y emplear los medios necesarios para conseguirla :varios príncipes europeos pretendían el trono .3 Cortejar [una persona ] a otra, especialmente un hombre a una mujer, con el objetivo de mantener un noviazgo y casarse :de joven la pretendieron muchos, pero jamás quiso comprometerse .4 Afirmar una cosa dudosa :pretendía que puede haber delito sin culpable; debemos dejar las cosas claras para que nadie pretenda decir que no podemos hacerlo; el niño, sin que pretendamos calificarle porque sí de genio, manifiesta un potencial creativo que convendría tener en cuenta .ETIMOLOGÍA Préstamo (s. xvi ) del latín praetendere ‘tender por delante ’, de donde ‘dar como excusa ’ y, posteriormente, ‘reclamar ’, el sentido con el que se ha tomado en español. De la familia etimológica de tender (V.).

pretendido, -da

pretendido, -da adjetivo Se aplica a un nombre cuando la cosa de que se trata no es realmente lo que el nombre expresa :pretendido apoliticismo; pretendida autosuficiencia; pretendidos derechos; pretendidas fórmulas naturales .Se usa antepuesto al nombre .

pretendiente

pretendiente adjetivo /nombre común 1 [persona ] Que pide o solicita un puesto o cargo :este cargo tiene muchos pretendientes .SINÓNIMO aspirante .2 nombre común Persona que corteja a otra con intención de casarse o de establecer relaciones con ella, especialmente un hombre a una mujer :se le fueron alejando juventud y pretendientes tan incultos como adinerados .3 Persona que reivindica el trono de un país al que considera tener derecho :el pretendiente francés Felipe de Anjou y el archiduque Carlos se disputaron el trono español .

pretensado

pretensado nombre masculino Técnica consistente en someter un material a un sistema de compresiones permanentes, por lo general de sentido opuesto a las que producirán las cargas que se apliquen ulteriormente :la utilización del pretensado para los puentes de hormigón es frecuente .

pretensar

pretensar verbo transitivo Someter [un material ] a pretensado :vigas pretensadas; hormigón pretensado .

pretensión

pretensión nombre femenino 1 Acción de pretender :la pretensión al monopolio del nombre romano iba unida a una lucha por la posesión de la verdadera Roma .2 Cosa que se pretende conseguir :señaló que la pretensión de los jueces es criminalizar estos procedimientos; las pretensiones de Fernando por el trono quedaron defraudadas al ser descubierta el 30 de octubre de 1807 una conspiración que urdió en El Escorial; jugaba replegado en su campo sin pretensiones ofensivas .3 despectivo Cosa ambiciosa o desproporcionada que se pretende :tiene la pretensión de que lo llevemos a todas partes .4 pretensiones nombre femenino plural despectivo Voluntad vanidosa de ser una persona lo que se expresa o de ser considerada como tal :tiene pretensiones de elegante; en su discurso no hallamos pretensiones de orador .5 pretensiones despectivo Apariencia de lujo, grandeza, importancia u otra cosa que no se tiene en realidad :un chalet con pretensiones de grandeza; su última película es una realización perfecta, sin pretensiones culturales elitistas; hizo una formulación con pretensiones de valor político eterno .

pretensioso, -sa

pretensioso, -sa adjetivo 1 Amér despectivo Que pretende causar impresión de lujo, grandeza o importancia .SINÓNIMO pretencioso .2 adjetivo Amér despectivo Que es propio de la persona pretensiosa .SINÓNIMO pretencioso .3 adjetivo Amér despectivo [persona ] Que presume y alardea de sus cualidades o pretende ser algo que no es .SINÓNIMO pretencioso .

preter-

preter- Elemento prefijal de origen latino que entra en la formación de nombres con el significado de ‘excepto ’, ‘más allá de ’:preternatural .

preterición

preterición nombre femenino 1 Acción de preterir, hacer caso omiso .2 der Omisión de un heredero forzoso en el testamento .3 lit Figura retórica que consiste en aparentar que se quiere omitir o pasar por alto aquello mismo que se dice o expresa encarecidamente .

preterir

preterir verbo transitivo 1 Hacer caso omiso de una persona o una cosa :su mujer, humillada y preterida, se rebeló con mayor agresividad .2 der No mencionar en el testamento a un heredero forzoso sin desheredarlo expresamente .Verbo defectivo; solamente se usa en los tiempos y personas cuya desinencia contiene la vocal i: pretería, preteriré, preterido, etc .

pretérito, -ta

pretérito, -ta adjetivo 1 formal Que ha existido o sucedido en el pasado :las civilizaciones pretéritas; en la actualidad tenemos a nuestra disposición una cantidad enorme de utensilios que hemos recibido como herencia de las generaciones pretéritas .SINÓNIMO pasado .2 nombre masculino /adjetivo Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción anterior al presente o a otra acción .pretérito anterior Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción acabada inmediatamente antes de otra acción pasada y acabada :el pretérito anterior de ‘saltar ’ es ‘hube saltado ’.SINÓNIMO antepretérito .pretérito imperfecto Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción pasada mientras esta se desarrolla :el pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de ‘ir ’ es ‘iba ’ y el de subjuntivo ‘fuera ’ o ‘fuese ’.El imperfecto de indicativo también se llama copretérito y el de subjuntivo, pretérito .pretérito perfecto o pretérito perfecto compuesto Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción acabada dentro de una unidad de tiempo que incluye el presente :el pretérito perfecto de ‘salir ’ es ‘he salido ’.SINÓNIMO antepresente .pretérito perfecto simple o pretérito indefinido Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción acabada en el pasado :el pretérito perfecto simple de ‘ir ’ es ‘fui ’.También simplemente pretérito .pretérito pluscuamperfecto Tiempo verbal que expresa una acción acabada y anterior con relación a otra acción pasada :el pretérito pluscuamperfecto de ‘leer ’ es ‘había leído ’.SINÓNIMO antecopretérito .ETIMOLOGÍA Préstamo (s. xvii ) del latín praeteritus ‘pasado, transcurrido ’, participio pasado de praeterire ‘pasar por delante ’. De la familia etimológica de ir (V.).

preternatural

preternatural adjetivo Que se halla más allá del estado natural de una cosa :de un modo o de otro recurren en su juicio a la intervención de potencias preternaturales y sobrehumanas .

pretextar

pretextar verbo transitivo Valerse [alguien ] de un pretexto para hacer o decir algo :estaba junto a mí, fingiéndose sobresaltada después de abofetearme con odio, pretextando que era necesario para sacarme de aquel trance .

pretexto

pretexto nombre masculino Razón o argumento que se da para justificar una cosa, en especial un fallo, un error o una falta o para demostrar que alguien no es culpable o responsable de algo :se marchó del país con el pretexto de visitar a su hermana que vivía en el extranjero .SINÓNIMO disculpa, excusa .so pretexto de formal Alegando determinado pretexto :el juez que se negare a juzgar, so pretexto de oscuridad, insuficiencia o silencio de la Ley, será castigado con la pena de suspensión .ETIMOLOGÍA Préstamo (s. xvii ) del latín praetextus, derivado de praetexere ‘poner como bordado o tejido delante de algo ’, de donde figuradamente ‘pretextar ’. De la familia etimológica de tejer (V.).

pretil

pretil nombre masculino 1 Muro protector de poca altura a los lados de un puente o en el borde de una terraza, balcón, etc. , construido para preservar de caídas :una salamandra rugosa corre tambaleándose por el pretil y se esconde en una maceta de geranios marchitos .SINÓNIMO acitara .2 Paseo a lo largo de ese muro .

pretina

pretina nombre femenino Correa o cinta con hebilla o broche para sujetar en la cintura ciertas prendas de ropa :el sudor le resbala por la espalda y le empapa la pretina del pantalón .

pretor

pretor nombre masculino Magistrado de la antigua Roma, inferior al cónsul, que ejercía jurisdicción en esta ciudad o en las provincias :los pretores se encargaban de la administración de la justicia .ETIMOLOGÍA Préstamo (s. xvi ) del latín praetor , praetoris ‘el que va delante ’, derivado de praeire ‘ir delante, ir a la cabeza ’. De la familia etimológica de ir (V.).

pretoría

pretoría nombre femenino Empleo o dignidad de pretor .SINÓNIMO pretura .

pretorial

pretorial adjetivo Del pretor o relacionado con él :era un hombre de rango pretorial .SINÓNIMO pretoriano, pretorio .

pretorianismo

pretorianismo nombre masculino Influencia política abusiva ejercida por algún grupo militar en el gobierno de un país .

pretoriano, -na

pretoriano, -na adjetivo 1 Pretorial :poderes pretorianos .2 Del pretorianismo o relacionado con él .3 adjetivo /nombre masculino [soldado ] Que pertenecía a la guardia de un emperador romano . VÉASE guardia pretoriana .

pretorio, -ria

pretorio, -ria adjetivo 1 Pretorial .2 nombre masculino Palacio en que habitaba y juzgaba el pretor romano o el presidente de una provincia :el prefecto del pretorio era el jefe de la guardia pretoriana .

pretura

pretura nombre femenino Empleo o dignidad del pretor romano .SINÓNIMO pretoría .

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

preteen

pre teen /prìːtíːn /形容詞名詞 C 11 --12歳の子供 (の ).

pretence

pre tence /príːtens |prɪténs /名詞｟英｠＝pretense .

pretend

pre tend /prɪténd /〖pre (前方へ )tend (伸ばす )〗動詞～s /-dz /; ～ed /-ɪd /; ～ing 他動詞 1 〈人が〉〈物事〉を装う ; 〖pretend (that )節 /to do 〗…である […する ]ふりをする , …と […すると ]見せかける ▸ John pretended that he was ignorant [to be ignorant ]. ≒ John pretended ignorance .｟かたく｠ジョンは無知を装った 2 〖通例否定文疑問文で〗〖pretend to do /(that )節〗あえて … だと (偽って )言い張る ▸ How could I pretend to understand it completely? どうしてそれを完全に理解していると (あつかましくも )言えようか ▸ We can no longer pretend that we live in a great society .私たちはもはや自分たちが偉大な社会に住んでいると言い張ることはできない .3 ｟主に小児｠…ごっこをする ; 〖pretend to do /(that )節〗(遊びで )…する […である ]まねをする ▸ The boys pretended to be detectives [that they were detectives ].少年たちは探偵ごっこをした自動詞 1 ふりをする , 見せかける .2 〈子供が〉ごっこ遊びをする .3 【権利肩書きなどが】あると主張する ; 【素質などが】あると自負 [自称 ]する «to » .形容詞比較なし偽りの , にせの ; ｟主に小児｠想像上の ▸ a pretend ceasefire 偽りの停戦 ▸ a pretend castle 想像のお城

pretended

pre t é nd ed /-ɪd /形容詞うそ [見せかけ ]の ; 自称の .

pretender

pre t é nd er 名詞 C 1 【王位などを】(不当に )主張 [要求 ]する者 «to » .2 見かけを装う人 ; 偽善者 .

pretense

pre tense ｟英｠-tence /príːtens |prɪténs /名詞 U 〖a ～〗1 «…という /…する » ふり, 見せかけ ; 虚偽 ; 口実, 言い訳 «of , that 節 /of do ing » ▸ under (the ) pretense of A Aであるふりをして 2 «…の » (不当な )要求, 主張 ; 虚勢, 見栄 «of , at , to » .

pretension

pre ten sion /prɪténʃ (ə )n /名詞 U C 1 〖通例～s 〗｟けなして｠(実際よりも良く )見せかけること, てらい, 気取り ; 虚勢 .2 〖しばしば～s 〗 «…である /…をするという » 主張, 要求 «to /to do ing , to do » (→claim ).3 口実, 言い訳 .

pretentious

pre ten tious /prɪténʃəs /形容詞｟けなして｠〈人物が〉 (実際よりもよく見せようと )見栄を張った, 気取った, うぬぼれた ; もったいぶった .～ly 副詞～ness 名詞

preterite

pret er ite -er it /prét (ə )rət /名詞 U 形容詞〖the ～〗〘文法〙過去時制 (の ); (動詞の )過去形 (の )(past ).

preterm

pre term /prɪtə́ː r m /形容詞副詞 (出産が )予定より早い [早く ], 早産の [で ].

preternatural

pre ter nat u ral /prìːtə r nǽtʃ (ə )r (ə )l /形容詞｟かたく｠超自然的な, 不可思議な, 超常現象の .

pretest

pre test /príːtest /名詞 C 動詞他動詞 (…の )予備試験 [検査 ](を行う ); (…を )事前調査 (する ), (…に )模擬テスト (を行う ).

pretext

pre text /príːtekst /〖pre (前もって )text (織ること )〗名詞複～s /-ts /C «…の /…するための /…という » (偽りの )口実 , 言い訳 «of , for /to do /that節 » (→reason )▸ on [under ] the pretext of talking about work 仕事の話にかこつけて ▸ provide a pretext for avoiding moral considerations 道徳上の考慮を避けることに対する口実を与える ▸ on some pretext or other 何だかんだと言って (→some 形容詞 5 )動詞 /--́ /他動詞 …を言い訳として持ち出す .

Pretoria

Pre to ri a /prɪtɔ́ːriə /名詞プレトリア〘南アフリカ共和国の首都〙.

pretrial

pre tri al /prìːtráɪ (ə )l /形容詞〘法〙公判前 (手続き )の .

prettify

pret ti fy /prɪ́tɪfàɪ /動詞 -fies ; -fied ; ～ing 他動詞｟主に英非難して｠…のうわべを飾りたてる ; …を美化する .

prettily

pret ti ly /prɪ́tɪli /副詞｟主に英｠きれいに, きちんと, 感じよく〈笑う飾るなど〉.

prettiness

pr é t ti ness 名詞 U かわいらしさ, きれいさ .

pretty

pret ty /prɪ́ti , ｟米話｠pə́ː r ti, prʊ́ti /〖語源は「ずる賢い」〗副詞比較なし｟くだけて｠かなり , 相当に (!｟米｠ではfairlyよりも高い頻度で用いられる; ｟英｠では｟主にくだけた話｠; →rather 類義 ) ; 大いに , 非常に (very ) (!通例肯定的評価を暗示 ) ▸ I feel pretty good .とても気分がいい ▸ They are doing pretty well .彼らはとてもうまくやっている ▸ pretty soon すぐに ▸ I'm pretty sure I can do it .間違いなくできます pr è tty m ú ch [w é ll, ｟米｠n é ar, ｟英｠n é arly ]｟話｠ほとんど ▸ in pretty much the same way ほぼ同様に ▸ “Are you OK? ” “Pretty much .”「大丈夫？」「まあね」pr è tty pl é ase ｟話おどけて｠頼むから, お願いだから .s ì tting pr é tty ｟くだけて｠安全で有利な立場の, 裕福な .形容詞 -tier ; -tiest 1 〈女性子供などが〉かわいい , きれいな (→beautiful 類義 ); 〈男性が〉なよなよした ▸ a pretty girl かわいい女の子 ▸ She's quite pretty , isn't she? 彼女はとてもかわいいよね 2 〈物場所歌声が〉 (目耳に )快い , こぎれいな , 感じのいい (!小さなもの, 繊細なものに感じられる美しさをいう ) ▸ a pretty flower きれいな花 ▸ a pretty name すてきな名前 ▸ a pretty town きれいな町 ▸ A pretty necklace for a pretty lady .｟広告｠美しい御婦人には美しいネックレスを 3 (比較なし )｟話やや古｠〖名詞の前で〗かなりの , 相当の ▸ cost a pretty penny かなりのお金がかかる動詞 -ties ; -tied ; ～ing 他動詞｟くだけて｠ «…で » 〈人物〉を美しく見せる , 飾り立てる (up ) «with » .

pretty-pretty

pr é tty-pr è tty 形容詞｟英｠きれいだけが取り柄の .

pretzel

pret zel /préts (ə )l /名詞 C プレッツェル〘カリカリした塩味のビスケット; 棒状またはゆるい結び目の形〙.