pretencelessadj.
/prᵻˈtɛnsləs/, U.S. /priˈtɛnsləs/, /prəˈtɛnsləs/, /ˈpriˌtɛnsləs/ Now rare.
Originally: †Without excuse or justification, inexcusable (obsolete). Later: without pretence or pretension.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > unpardonableness > [adjective]
irremissible1413
uncleansable?c1475
impardonable1523
unpardonable1525
inexcusable1526
unforgivable1548
unexcusable1550
pardonless1567
inexpiable1570
unreclaimable1574
irremittable1587
unremissible1593
unsatisfiable1593
unexpiable1606
excuseless1611
anapologetic1614
unsalvable1624
pretenceless1641
unpalliable1672
unatonable1689
redemptionless1799
irredeemablea1834
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > unpardonable or inexpiable
irremissible1413
uncleansable?c1475
impardonable1523
unpardonable1525
inexcusable1526
unforgivable1548
unexcusable1550
pardonless1567
inexpiable1570
irremittable1587
unremissible1593
unsatisfiable1593
unexpiable1606
excuseless1611
anapologetic1614
pretenceless1641
unatonable1689
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 52 What Rebellions, and those the basest, and most pretenselesse have they not been chiefe in?
1682 J. Howe Right Use Argument 52 Do we think when the roller comes it will scruple to crush us, or have regard to our immodest, pretenceless claim?
1817 J. Bentham Plan Parl. Reform Introd. 26 Oh! pretenceless and inhuman tyranny!
a1892 J. G. Whittier Poet. Wks. (1894) I. 291 The town With white, pretenceless houses.
1907 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 6 July 12/6 He is pretenseless as a keg of nails and as sentimental as a rose-jar.
2001 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 24 Oct. 1 This utterly pretenseless bear of a man.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1641