Both Uses of
pretense
in
An Inspector Calls
- Gerald, I'm going to tell you frankly, without any pretenses, that your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me.†
p. 8.2 *pretenses = appearances or actions to help one pretend
- But we really must stop these silly pretenses.†
p. 32.5
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.