ostensive

American  

[o-sten-siv] / ɒˈstɛn sɪv /

adjective

1. clearly or manifestly demonstrative.

2. ostensible.

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ostensive British  

/ ɒˈstɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. obviously or manifestly demonstrative

2. a less common word for ostensible

3. philosophy (of a definition) given by demonstrative means, esp by pointing

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Other Word Forms

• nonostensive adjective
• nonostensively adverb
• ostensively adverb
• unostensive adjective
• unostensively adverb

Etymology

Origin of ostensive

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin ostēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin ostēns(us), variant of ostentus, past participle of ostendere “to present, display” ( o(b)s, variant of ob- “to, toward, on” + tend(ere) “to stretch” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īvus adjective suffix; ob-, -ive

Example Sentences

Evidently, it isn’t easy ending the lives of others, even those who pose an ostensive threat to national security, survive a five-car collision or mildly resemble Drake.

From Salon

Rather, he is ostensively defining what he calls “the smug style in American liberalism.”

From The Wall Street Journal

And Israel holds undeniable power over the lives of West Bank's Palestinians, despite their ostensive autonomy.

From US News

It serves mainly to provide the regime with ostensive evidence of its power and technological progress.

From Project Gutenberg

He jerked forward in his chair, "Except, of course, ostensively."

From Project Gutenberg