You searched for: “pretext
pretext (s) (noun), pretexts (pl)
1. A misleading or untrue explanation given for doing something in an attempt to conceal the real reason: Sabina went back to her boyfriend's apartment with the pretext that she had forgotten her purse.
2. An effort or strategy intended to conceal something: Frank had a pretext that the heavy traffic kept him from getting to work on time, however it was really because he didn't get up in time.
3. Etymology: from Latin praetexere, "to disguise, to cover"; from prae-, "before" + texere, "to weave."
A fictitious purpose for an activity.
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A supposedly pretended excuse.
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A false reason for not doing something.
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This entry is located in the following units: pre-, prae- (page 18) text-, tex- (page 1)