Both Uses of
pretense
in
1984 by Orwell
- Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary.†
p. 14..6 *
- He could not even fall back on the pretence that he had come to borrow the dictionary, because in that case Julia's presence was impossible to explain.†
p. 169..2
Definition:
-
(pretense) a false appearance or action to help one pretendeditor's notes: This is sometimes seen in the expression "false pretense" or "false pretenses" which is just emphasizing that behavior or actions do not reflect the true situation.