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