All 4 Uses of
pretense
in
The Jungle by Sinclair
- Now a good many of the guests have finished, and, since there is no pretense of ceremony, the banquet begins to break up.
Chpt 1 *pretense = a false appearance or action to help one pretend
- They had done nothing to deserve it; and it was adding insult to injury, as the thing was done here, swinging them up in this cold-blooded, impersonal way, without a pretense of apology, without the homage of a tear.†
Chpt 3
- So indignant were the packers that they went farther, and compelled the mayor to abolish the whole bureau of inspection; so that since then there has not been even a pretense of any interference with the graft.†
Chpt 9
- It so happened that half of this was in one direction and half in another, necessitating a change of cars; the law required that transfers be given at all intersecting points, but the railway corporation had gotten round this by arranging a pretense at separate ownership.†
Chpt 20
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.