ostentation
[ os-ten-tey-shuhn, -tuhn- ]
/ ˌɒs tɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -tən- /
noun
pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others.
Archaic.
the act of showing or exhibiting; display.
Origin of ostentation
1425–75; late Middle English
ostentacioun < Middle French
ostentation < Latin
ostentātiōn- (stem of
ostentātiō), equivalent to
ostentāt(us) past participle of
ostentāre to display, exhibit, frequentative of
ostendere to present, display (equivalent to
os-, var of
ob-
ob- +
ten(dere) to stretch +
-t- frequentative suffix +
-ātus
-ate1) +
-iōn-
-ion
synonym study for ostentation
1. See
show.
OTHER WORDS FROM ostentation
non·os·ten·ta·tion, nounWords nearby ostentation
ostensibly,
ostensive,
ostensive definition,
ostensorium,
ostensory,
ostentation,
ostentatious,
osteo-,
osteoanagenesis,
osteoarthritis,
osteoarthropathy
Example sentences from the Web for ostentation
British Dictionary definitions for ostentation
ostentation
/ (ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃən) /
noun
pretentious, showy, or vulgar display