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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pretendit, ppl. adj. Also: prae- and -ed. [Late ME (1461) and e.m.E. pretended.]

1. That is claimed to be (what the noun designates) but is not admitted by the speaker to be so; alleged, purported; would-be, so-called; passing into: improper, invalid, spurious.Also, that is asserted to be true but is not admitted by the speaker.Much the commonest sense.(1) 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxx.
The lordis … ordanis the pretendit tutouris of the saide Johne … to bring … evidentis 1491 Ib. I 202/2.
Pretendit justicez to George Bischop of Dunkelden 1497 Ib. II 74.
Robert of Cunynghame pretendit schiref of Striveling, for his pretendit and wrangus process 1549 Compl. 85 title.
The pretendit Kyngis of Ingland Ib. 150/7.
Vicius pretendit gentil men 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 172, etc. 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 271.
The pretendit minister, eldaris and diaconis of this cite are na jugis competent 1581 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 143.
Pretendit occupiaris and possessours of ane tenement 1602 Conv. Burghs II 129.
Aganis the pretendit deykin of the maltmen … for vsurpeing the said office of deykinship 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 162.
The pretendit moderator c1650 Spalding II 56.
No bischopis … except the pretendit bischop of Ross 1653 Strathbogie Presb. 235.
Gilles, a praetended minister 1696 Acts X 33/1.
Against the late King James and the pretended prince of Scotland commonly called the pretended prince of Wales(2) 1549 Douglas of Morton 30.
His pretendit weddit spous 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 59.
Against … hir prætended husband 1561 Ib. 77. a1578 Pitsc. I 125/13. 1592 Acts III 544/1.
To hir said pretendit housband and adulterair(3) 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 290/2.
In a pretendit admirall court as wes allegiit haldin be the said deputis 1544 Acts II 447/1.
Quhair the quene moder … hes gart proclame ane pretendit parliament 1572 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxii.
The … penalteys … incurred by the pretendit parliamentis actis of counsall may be … declared null 1638 Lennoxlove MS (The Duke of Hamilton) C1/466.
The pretended assemblie at Glasgow doth still continewe, and to expresse all there mad acts would wearie you 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 13.
To compeir … before the pretendit quarter sessione of the justice of peace … wheras these pretendit judicatories were at that tyme discharged(4) 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 128.
Befoyr the pretendit mariaig betuix Ihon Forret and Elizabeth Lesle 1562-3 Winȝet I 110/5.
To be ȝokit vp in a prætendit band of matrimonie 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I 326. 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 235.
[He] confessis that at the pretendit contract and promys mackyng 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 537.
The pretendit and vnlawfull mariage betuix the quene and Boithuile Ib. 549. 1568 Buch. Indict. 49.
That vnlaufull and pretendit mariage 1569 Mary Facs. Nat. MSS III lix. 1592 Acts III 544/1.(5) 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 277.
Accusit for pretendit ministracion or rather prophanacion of the sacrament of baptisme 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 315.
Alexander Dunbar … intrusit himself be pretendit electioun in the office of provestrie 1573 Elgin Rec. I 141.
The tyme of the making of the said pretendit infeftment be ressone of ane pretendit proces and dome of forfaltour 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV 281.
The narrative of the said letter hes ane plawsable face to cullour the … pretendit forme thairof 1599 Aberd. Council Lett. I 78.
The bischop … renunceand all pretendit richt or possessioun that they may pretend thairto 1627 Rep. Parishes 60. 1636 Stirling B. Rec. I 175.
Ane pretendit unlauchfull custome … callit be thame the laydell dewtie(6) 1562-3 Winȝet I 64/7.
For non assentying to the prætendit reformatioun Ib. 64/17.
Of ȝour praetendit religioun 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 84/6.
For thaire prætendit [1599 pretended] reformation of princis takis neuer effect but [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 185/19.
Johnne Balyoll usurpare pretendand him to be the … Scottis king began his pretendit regnne 1661 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 145.
Money … bearing the armes of the pretendit commonwealth(7) 1489 Acta Aud. 145/2.
Becaus all the personis contenit in the said pretendit decrett wes nocht lymmitt … be the thre estatis 1490–1 Acta Conc. I 173/1. 1496 Ib. II 19.
To bring with hir the pretendit assignacione writin in paper producit be hir in jugment 1497 Ib. 74.
For his pretendit and wrangus process … done in the serving of the sade breif 1498 Ib. 278.
Til here and se ane ordenance calland it ane pretendit decret to be … decernit of nane avale 1528 Douglas Corr. 131. 1538–9 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 232. 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. 80. 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 172. 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E 14.
We … executouris to vmquhill Ionet Rutherford … confessis the pretendit seasinges gevin to ws be the said Ionet … is of na strenthe … nor effeir becaus the samin wes gevin vpon hir deidbed 1563–4 Crim. Trials I i 439. 1573 Elgin Rec. I 141. 1584 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 319.
The falset, at the lest fenȝei[t]nes, of the said pretendit instrument 1585 Conv. Burghs I 203. 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 17. 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 270.
The samyne was allanerlie ane cullorit richt in respect of the saidis pretendit infeftmentis(8) 1661 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 143.
Counterfite turners … haveing different inscriptions viz. about the pretendit thistle these words(9) 1596 in Melvill 511.
Quhairthrow my answering to the pretendit accusatioune might import with the manifest prejudies of the liberties of the kirk

b. On or upoun his pretendit maner, by virtue of a right arrogated to himself by the person referred to, but not admitted by the speaker; without valid right, unjustifiably, illegally. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 206.
Matho erle of Lennox having vnlauchtfullie intrusit him selff in the regiment … laitlie causit publeis sindrie lettres … chargeing, on his pretendit maner, all men … till … leif … my service 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 420.
Johnne Hume, … upoun his pretendit maner of bangeistarie and oppressioun, … come to the houssis of the samin and [etc.]

c. That one claims as a right which is not admitted or is denied by the speaker. 1494 Acta Conc. I 331/1.
The pretendit pension clamit of the kirk of Logy be the priores & convent of Northberwik 1577 Inverness Rec. I 257.
The pretendit myln of Johne Ross to be biggit on the landis of Deirbocht to be demollesit at sic tyme as quhan scho salbe biggit

d. That is alleged by a person to exist or to be so whereas this is doubted or denied by the speaker; would-be, ‘imaginary’. 1549 Compl. 142/33.
Thai gloir in there pretendit kyn ande blude Ib. 144/5.
Ȝour pretendit gentreis ande nobilnes

2. That is carried out only as a pretence or in feigning; that is falsely professed or made out to be so; feigned. 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 545 A.
That thar is a pretendit intrusione callit sessing gevin be ȝow 1494 Acta Conc. I 376/2.
In the pretendit & fenȝeit restoring of certane oxin & hors to the saidis tennentis … and tharefter spulȝeing & taking agane fra the sammyn tennentis of xiij oxin & twa hors 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2036.
Quhilks be wilfull manifest arrogance Inuyous pride pretendit ignorance Foull dowbilnes … Enforcis thame thair selfis to auance

3. Openly admitted, professed, acknowledged: cf. Pretend v. 1. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2159.
Remittand my pretendit negligence

4. Purposed, intended, planned (Pretend v. 10). c1610 Melville Mem. 14.
The twa Scotis scollairs never obtenit payement fra the bischop for ther pretendit fraud