Ostentatious
/ˌɒs.tənˈteɪ.ʃəs/noun
Characterized by conspicuous display intended to impress others.
Did you know?Its core comes from Latin *ostentare*, an intensive form of *ostendere* (“to show”), which is tied to the same root behind *tension* and *tend* — the idea of stretching something out so it’s visible.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch, extend”
Latin
Latin
tendere
“to stretch, extend”
Latin
Latin
ostendere
“to show, exhibit, point out”
Latin
Latin
ostentare
“to display repeatedly, show off”
Late Latin
LL
ostentatio
“a showing, display, parade”
Middle French
MF
ostentation
“display, showiness”
English
English
ostentatious
“characterized by conspicuous or pretentious display”
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