Both Uses of
pretense
in
Catch-22
- The captain was piqued, but managed to carry on with a pretense of optimism.†
Chpt 25 *
- Orr asked with a pretense of pensive curiosity.†
Chpt 28
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.