Both Uses of
pretext
in
The Idiot
- Upon the pretext that his tenant needed quiet, he kept him almost in isolation, and Muishkin protested in vain against this excess of zeal.†
Chpt 2.6 *
- So next day the prince was expected all the morning, and at dinner, tea, and supper; and when he did not appear in the evening, Mrs. Epanchin quarrelled with everyone in the house, finding plenty of pretexts without so much as mentioning the prince's name.†
Chpt 2.6
Definition:
a false reason presented to hide the real reason for doing something