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pretence

Diction
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A false appearance or act of pretending. In British English, it can also mean a claim or pretext.

Detailed Definition
Pretence is a more formal or literary word for something that is not genuine, or for the act of pretending. In this poem, it contrasts with the speaker’s insistence on what is real and natural, as in “No pretence, just the scent of you and me.”
Example
Example in poetry:
“No pretence” means no false display, concealment, or affected behavior in an intimate declaration; In Shakespearean diction, pretence can mean a claim or intention, as when appearances mask motives; “She wore no pretence of grief” suggests that her sorrow was genuine rather than performed; A speaker may confess, “My brave voice is pretence,” using the word to expose emotional disguise
Additional Notes
The word “pretence” in the quoted line is a more literary form than the everyday “pretense,” so some readers may pause over it.; Found in the poem, Heaven Scent by Richard
Also Known As
deception facade illusion masquerade
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