Pre"text [F. pr'etexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]
Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.
They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness.
L'Estrange.
With how much or how little pretext of reason.
Dr. H. More.
Syn. -- Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.
© Webster 1913.