All 3 Uses of
pretense
in
Harry Potter (#4) and the Goblet of Fire
- By dusk, the still summer air itself seemed to be quivering with anticipation, and as darkness spread like a curtain over the thousands of waiting wizards, the last vestiges of pretence disappeared: the Ministry seemed to have bowed to the inevitable and stopped fighting the signs of blatant magic now breaking out everywhere.†
Chpt 7unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use pretense.
- Abandoning all pretense, Ron pushed his chair backward, as far away from Moody's desk as possible.†
Chpt 14pretense = a false appearance or action to help one pretend
- You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretenses, Dumbledore!†
Chpt 28 *false pretenses = false 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.