1. Appearance; air; mien. Shak.
2. Manifestation; token; portent. Dryden. We asked of God that some ostent might clear Our cloudy business, who gave us sign. Chapman.
OSTENTATE Os"ten*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. ostentatus, p. p. of ostentare, v. intens. fr. ostendere. See Ostent.]
Defn: To make an ambitious display of; to show or exhibit boastingly.
[R.] Jer. Taylor.
OSTENTATION
Os`ten*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ostentatio: cf. F. ostentation.]
1. The act of ostentating or of making an ambitious display; unnecessary show; pretentious parade; — usually in a detractive sense. "Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm." Milton. He knew that good and bountiful minds were sometimes inclined to ostentation. Atterbury.
2. A show or spectacle. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
— Parade; pageantry; show; pomp; pompousness; vaunting; boasting.
See Parade.
OSTENTATIOUS
Os`ten*ta"tious, a.
Defn: Fond of, or evincing, ostentation; unduly conspicuous;
pretentious; boastful.
Far from being ostentatious of the good you do. Dryden.
The ostentatious professions of many years. Macaulay.
— Os`ten*ta"tious*ly, adv.
— Os`ten*ta"tious*ness, n.