Search the Dictionary

A pretender or quack in theology. [R.] Burton.

One who pretends to, or is addicted to, theurgy. Hallywell.

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

ble. South. Virgil is so exact in every word that none can be changed but for a worse; he pretends sometimes to trip, but it is to make you think him in danger when most secure. Dryden. What dost thou verily trip upon a word R. Browning.

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.

s, the usurper of a throne, of power, or of the rights of a patron. A crown will not want pretenders to claim it, not usurpers, if their power serves them, to possess it. South.

The higher literary idiom of Chinese, that of the canonical books and of all composition pretending to literary standing. It employs a classical or academic diction, and a more condensed and sententious style than Mandarin, and differs also in the doubling and arrangement of words.

a swindler who pretends to tap wires or otherwise intercept advance telegraphic news for betting. -- Wire tapping.

One who pretends to be wise; a wiseacre; a witling. Donne.

A person who has little wit or understanding; a pretender to wit or smartness. A beau and witing perished in the forming. Pope. Ye newspaper witlings! ye pert scribbling folks! Goldsmith.