(n.) Alt. of Pretence.

acting affectation affectedness air airs airs and graces alibi apology appearance appurtenance artificiality attitudinizing authority birthright blind bluff bluffing charade cheating claim cloak color coloring conjugal right cover cover story cover-up deceit deception delusion demand device disguise dissemblance dissembling dissimulation divine right droit due excuse explanation facade face faculty fake fakery faking false air false front false show falsity feigned belief feigning feint four-flushing fraud front gilt gloss guise handle humbug humbuggery hypocrisy image imposture inalienable right insincerity interest lame excuse locus standi loftiness lofty affectations make-believe mannerism mask masquerade mere show meretriciousness natural right ostensible motive ostent ostentation ostentatiousness outward show pageant playacting poor excuse pose posing posture power prerogative prescription presumptive right pretension pretentiousness pretext proper claim property right protestation prunes and prisms public image public motive put-off put-on putting on airs rational ground rationale reason reason for reason why refuge representation right screen seeming semblance sham show simulacrum simulation smoke screen speciousness stalking-horse stated cause stratagem stylishness subterfuge the big idea the idea the whatfor the wherefore the why title trick underlying reason unnaturalness varnish veil vested interest vested right window dressing