Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Pretension \Pre*ten"sion\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]tention. See
   {Pretend}, {Tension}.]
   1. The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of
      asserting right or title.

            The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed to
            protract the discussion.              --Macaulay.

   2. A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or
      assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a
      certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.

            This was but an invention and pretension given out
            by the Spaniards.                     --Bacon.

            Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor
            their pretensions.                    --L'Estrange.

Source : WordNet®

pretension
     n 1: a false or unsupportable quality [syn: {pretense}, {pretence}]
     2: the advancing of a claim; "his pretension to the crown";
        "the town still puts forward pretensions as a famous
        resort"
     3: the quality of being pretentious (creating a false
        appearance of great importance or worth) [syn: {pretentiousness}]
        [ant: {unpretentiousness}]