pretext, pretense, pretension, plea†; allegation, advocation; ostensible
motive, ostensible ground, ostensible reason, phony reason; excuse &c
(vindication) 937; subterfuge; color; gloss, guise, cover.
loop hole, starting hole; how to creep out of, salvo, come off;
way of escape.
handle, peg to hang on, room locus standi [Lat.]; stalking-horse,
cheval de bataille [Fr.], cue.
pretense &c (untruth) 546; put off, dust thrown in the eyes;
blind; moonshine; mere pretext, shallow pretext; lame excuse, lame
apology; tub to a whale; false plea, sour grapes; makeshift, shift,
white lie; special pleading &c (sophistry) 477; soft sawder &c
(flattery) 933 [Obs.].
V. pretend, plead, allege; shelter oneself under the plea of; excuse &c
(vindicate) 937; lend a color to; furnish a handle &c n.; make a
pretext of, make a handle of; use as a plea &c n.; take one's stand
upon, make capital out of, pretend &c (lie) 544.
Adj. ostensibly &c (manifest) 525; alleged, apologetic; pretended &c
545.
Adv. ostensibly; under color; under the plea, under the pretense of,
under the guise of.