ostensibly

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WOTD - 5 April 2007    

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From ostensible, from French ostensible, from Latin ostensus, past participle of ostendō (“‘I show’”), from ob (“‘before’”) + tendō (“‘I stretch out’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

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Particularly: “hyphenation”

[edit] Adverb

ostensibly (not comparable)

Positive
ostensibly

Comparative
not comparable

Superlative
none (absolute)
  1. seemingly, apparently, on the surface
    • 1889, Leslie Stephen, Sidney Lee, Dictionary of national biography
      On 13 June the peshwa signed a new treaty, ostensibly complying with the demands of the British government...
    • 1906, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle
      Up to a year or two ago it had been the custom to kill horses in the yards — ostensibly for fertilizer...
    • 2007, Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson, Sandworms of Dune
      People strive to achieve perfection — ostensibly an honorable god — but complete perfection is dangerous. To be imperfect, but human, is far preferable.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

ostensibly
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