Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pretension

/pɹitˈɛnʃən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.34 in modern English

Syllables: pre-ten-sion
IPA: /pɹitˈɛnʃən/

12

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A claim or aspiration to a particular status or quality.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Pretentiousness.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To apply tension to an object before some other event or process.

verb

To apply tension to reinforcing strands before concrete is poured in.

Example Sentences

"As a foreign stamp gazette it is nowhere. An article on Stamp Collecting, by J. E. Gray, “reprinted from one of his books,” and a catalogue of stamps constitute its sole attraction. We are surprised to find such sounding pretentions so poorly supported."

Etymology

From Middle English pretencioun, pretensioun, from Medieval Latin prētēnsiō.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: pretencioun, prētēnsiō

Usage

Inflected Forms

pretensions (plural) prætension (alternative, obsolete) pretensions (present, singular) pretensioning (participle, present) pretensioned (participle, past) pretensioned (past)

Derived Forms

pretensional pretensionless

Frequently Paired Words

pretense pretentious posttension

Synonyms

pretense pretence pretentiousness largeness

Rhymes With

attention mention convention extension prevention intervention suspension tension pension non-intervention invention dimension

Questions

How do you pronounce pretension?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɹitˈɛnʃən/.
What does pretension mean?: A claim or aspiration to a particular status or quality.
Where does pretension come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pretension

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pretension”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɹitˈɛnʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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