prae-tento or praetempto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a.
I To feel , search , or grope out beforehand , to examine previously , to estimate beforehand , anticipate (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): praetentare baculo, luminis orbus, iter, Ov. Ib. 262: praetentat manu silvas, id. M. 14, 189: praetentat pollice chordas, id. ib. 5, 339: pedibus praetentat iter, Tib. 2, 1, 77: cochleae corniculis praetentant iter, Plin. 9, 32, 51, § 101: sinum, Suet. Aug. 35: culcitis et stragulis praetentatis et excussis, id. Claud. 35: fato pericula vestra praetentate meo, Luc. 9, 397.—
B Trop., to test or try beforehand : vires, Ov. M. 8, 7: judicis misericordiam, Quint. 4, 1, 28.—
II To hold before one's self : praetentat pallia laevā, Claud. B. Gild. 438.—
B Trop., to make a pretext of : impia praetentans vulnera, Val. Fl. 6, 75.