/os'ten tay"sheuhn, -teuhn-/ , n.
1. pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others.
2. Archaic. the act of showing or exhibiting; display.
[ 1425-75; late ME ostentacioun ostentation ostentation- (s. of ostentatio ), equiv. to ostentat ( us ) ptp. of ostentare to display, exhibit, freq. of ostendere to present, display (equiv. to os-, var of ob- OB- + ten ( dere ) to stretch + -t- freq. suffix + -atus -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 1. pretension, pretense. See show .