The Only Use of
pretense
in
The Great Gatsby
- He might have despised himself, for he had certainly taken her under false pretenses.†
p. 149..4
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.