March 28, 2008
Friday, 28th March 2008 : Today's Word is ...
Ostensible
Pronunciation : o st�n-sse-b'l
1. outward appearance
2. presented as being true, or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaning
3. concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious
4. appearing as such but not necessarily so
French, from Medieval Latin ost�nsibilis, from Latin ost�nsus, past participle of ostendere, to show : ob-, ob- + tendere, to stretch
ostensive, apparent, professed, supposed, perceived, seeming, alleged, superficial
genuine, real, improbable, obscure, unlikely, vague
� His ostensible purpose was charity, but his real goal was popularity.
� The ostensible purpose of the parade was to celebrate the day, but the prolific political posters made it clear it was part of a campaign.
� The ostensible reason why Ahab did not go on board of the whaler we had spoken was this: the wind and sea betokened storms.
� There is something ostensible in each of them, and in all probability something unseen and unproved, but to be imagined, also.
� I have formed the belief that the man who applauds that air with special violence and ostensible sectional loyalty is invariably a native of India.
� Blake's ostensible mission was to repair a broken telephone, but his real goal was to plant a bomb that would blow up the building.
� Trevor's ostensible kindness to squirrels belied his deep hatred of them.
� ostensibly : Adverb
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