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A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, "I do not speak of my adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice." [Written also paralepsis, paralepsy, paralipsis…

-- Wager policy, a policy that shows on the face of it that the contract it embodies is a pretended insurance, founded on an ideal risk, where the insured has no interest in anything insured.

ething else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.] Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them. Milton.

That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint. Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince. Dryden.

Pretended; feigned. [Obs.] -- Pre*tens"ed*ly, adv. [Obs.]

A combining form or prefix signifying false, counterfeit, pretended, spurious; as, pseudo-apostle, a false apostle; pseudo- clergy, false or spurious clergy; pseudo-episcopacy, pseudo-form, pseudo-martyr, pseudo-philosopher. Also used adjectively.

To puzzle; to banter; to chaff or mock with pretended seriousness of discourse; to make sport of, as by obscure questions. He quizzed unmercifully all the men in the room. Thackeray.

dost ravish from my chin Will quicken, and accuse thee. Shak. This hand shall ravish thy pretended right. Dryden.

scrupulous austerity; sanctity; especially, outward or artificial saintliness; assumed or pretended holiness; hypocritical devoutness. Her pretense is a pilgrimage; . . . which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished. Shak.

False; counterfeit; pretended; feigned; unreal; as, a sham fight. They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians. Jowett (Thucyd)

Feigned; pretended. Bale.

Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; would-be.

The act of an incumbent in taking the fruits of his benefice without right, but under a pretended title. Blackstone.

Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

A real or pretended indifference to pleasure or pain; insensibility; impassiveness.

To hold the same faith; to agree. [R.] The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them. G. S. Faber.

An attack; an assault. One thrust at your pure, pretended mechanism. Dr. H. More.

Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian. The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John i. 9. True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. Pope.

ich use of reason, most reasonless and unconscionable, is the utmost that any tyrant ever pretended. Milton. His giantship is gone somewhat crestfallen, Stalking with less unconscionable strides. Milton.

To deprive of a pope. [Obs.] Rome will never so far unpope herself as to part with her pretended supremacy. Fuller.