pretendantEtymologyFrom Middle French pretendant, from the present participle of pretendre (“to claim”). By surface analysis, pretend + -ant.adjClaiming to be someone or something; having a claim.“Elſe ô how eaſie had it beene for thee / All the pretendant race t’haue laid full low / If thou proceeded hadſt with crueltie, / Not ſuffering anie fatall branch to grow: […]”nounA pretender; a claimant.A suitor.“Bur at laſt his fight being as odious to me, as his company was troubleſome, I let him know in very ſharp terms how much I hated him, bidding him never imagine or think of obtaining me, for he ſhould ſooner bring the heavens and earth together than obtain my love, commanding him to avoid my ſight. This ſudden mordacity ſtarted my pretendant, rebating his love, it ſuſcicated his paſſion, and with a”