pretentiousness
|pre/ten/tious/ness|
C1
/prɪˈtɛnʃəsnəs/
(pretentious)
showy display
Etymology
Etymology Information
'pretentious' originates from the Latin word 'praetendere,' where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'tendere' meant 'to stretch.'
Historical Evolution
'praetendere' transformed into the French word 'prétentieux,' and eventually became the modern English word 'pretentious' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to stretch forth or extend,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'showing off or being ostentatious.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality of attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
Her pretentiousness was evident in the way she spoke about her travels.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41