Webster's English Dictionary

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pretext

Cross references:
  1. apology               
 
pre.text \'pre--.tekst\ n [L praetextus, fr. praetextus, pp. of praetexere 
   to assign as] a pretext, lit., to weave in front, fr. prae- + texere to 
   weave - more at TECHNICAL : a purpose or motive alleged or an appearance 
   assumed in order to cloak t he real intention or state of affairs