'pretender' originates from the Latin word 'praetendere,' where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'tendere' meant 'to stretch.'

'praetendere' transformed into the Old French word 'pretendre,' and eventually became the modern English word 'pretend.'

Initially, it meant 'to stretch forth or extend,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to claim or assert falsely.'