All 3 Uses of
pretense
in
Northanger Abbey
- Setting her own inclination apart, to have failed a second time in her engagement to Miss Tilney, to have retracted a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before, and on a false pretence too, must have been wrong.†
Chpt 13 *unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use pretense.
- Miss Tilney, understanding in part her friend's curiosity to see the house, soon revived the subject; and her father being, contrary to Catherine's expectations, unprovided with any pretence for further delay, beyond that of stopping five minutes to order refreshments to be in the room by their return, was at last ready to escort them.†
Chpt 23
- Open, candid, artless, guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, and knowing no disguise.†
Chpt 25pretensions = appearances or actions to help one pretend
Definition:
a false appearance or action to help one pretend
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.