pretend

Where does the word "pretend" come from? It comes from Latin praetendere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Pretend’s story begins in Latin: praetendere meant “to stretch forth, to claim falsely.” To stretch forth, to claim falsely, from prae- (before) and tendere (to stretch). It reached English by 1400s as pretend. Settled as the English word for acting as if something is true when it isn't. Today, pretend means to act as if something is the case when it is not, especially in play or deception.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praetendere "to stretch forth, to claim falsely", to stretch forth, to claim falsely, from prae- (before) and tendere (to stretch).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s pretend "to act as if something is true when it is not", settled as the English word for acting as if something is true when it isn't.