見栄
解説 Definition
pretensions は pretension（見栄、うぬぼれた主張）の複数形です。実力や実態以上に立派に見せようとする態度や主張を、批判的に述べるときによく使われます。
Exaggerated claims, attitudes, or displays intended to make someone or something seem more important, refined, talented, or impressive than reality justifies. The plural noun is usually critical and often appears with modifiers such as grand, intellectual, or artistic.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
単数形 pretension に複数語尾 -s が付いた形で、末尾は /z/ と発音します。ここでは「実態以上に立派・芸術的・重要に見せる主張や態度」を批判的に表します。grand pretensions、artistic pretensions のまとまりで覚え、単なる ambition「実現を目指す大志」より、見せかけやうぬぼれを含む点を意識しましょう。
The singular is pretension, and pretensions adds the regular plural -s, pronounced /z/. Connect it with pretend: both can involve presenting something as more impressive or genuine than it really is. Picture a modest proposal wrapped in grand language but offering few practical details; its grand pretensions exceed its substance. Common combinations include artistic pretensions, intellectual pretensions, and grand pretensions. Unlike ambitions, which are goals someone sincerely works toward, pretensions usually suggest inflated claims, affected behavior, or status that the speaker believes is not deserved.
例文
His pretensions made the small dinner feel too formal.
彼の見栄のせいで、小さな夕食会が堅苦しく感じられました。
The article criticized the company's artistic pretensions.
その記事は、その会社の芸術ぶった見栄を批判しました。
Despite its grand pretensions, the proposal offered few practical details.
その提案は大げさな見栄を張っていたものの、実用的な詳細はほとんど示していませんでした。
pretensions の類義語・関連語
類義語
pretensions の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語 praetendere（前に広げる）から。prae-（前に）+ tendere（伸ばす）で、実際以上に自分を大きく見せる意。pretend（ふりをする）やtension（緊張）と同根。「前に張り出す→見せかける→見栄」と意味が発展した。
Pretension came through French from Medieval Latin pretensio, related to Latin praetendere, “to stretch forth” or “put forward,” formed from prae-, “before,” and tendere, “to stretch.” The sense developed from putting forward a claim to making an asserted or exaggerated claim. Pretensions is its regular plural. Pretend and tension are historically related through the same Latin root tendere, although their modern meanings differ.
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