ostentationn.
/ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃn/, /ˌɒst(ə)nˈteɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌɑst(ə)nˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > [noun]
foretokenc888
tokeningc888
beaconc950
token971
handsela1200
boding1297
wonder1297
bodec1374
signa1387
foreboding1387
prenostica1393
prognosticc1425
prophetc1430
prognostication?a1439
ostentationa1450
prenostication?a1450
prodigy?a1450
augurationc1450
preparative1460
prenosticate?a1475
prenosticative?a1475
prodige1482
prenosticature1490
tokener1513
weird1513
show token1535
luck1538
prognosticate1541
preamble1548
proffer1548
presagition?c1550
foreshower1555
presage1560
portent1562
ostent1570
presagie1581
omen1582
presagement1586
luck sign1587
augury1588
prognosticon1588
forerunner1589
presager1591
halfner1594
spae1596
abode1598
oss1600
assign1601
augur1603
bodement1613
predictiona1616
prognosticala1618
bespeaker1624
portender1635
pre-indicant1659
foreshadow1834
boder1846
prognosticant1880
sky sign1880
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prefiguration > [noun]
foreshowinga1050
foretokeninga1300
prefigurationa1382
premonstrationc1429
prenotationa1550
presignification1578
precursea1591
ostentation1607
precursion1615
prefigurement1708
foreshadowing1847
a1450–1500 ( Libel Eng. Policy (1926) 789 (MED) Many a day Men have be ferde of here rebellione By grete tokenes and ostentacione.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 336 There haue beene predictions or ostentations of things to come, taken from a Wolfe, a Fox, and a Serpent, and a Horsse, which were called Auspicia Pedestria.
2. Display intended to attract notice or admiration; pretentious, vainglorious, or vulgar show; pointed or exaggerated exhibition, showing off; (also) an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [noun]
boast1297
strut1303
bombancec1325
bobantc1330
bobancec1380
ambitionc1384
oliprancec1390
pretence?a1439
ostentationa1475
pransawtea1500
bravity1546
finesse1549
bravery1573
overlashing1579
brave1596
peacockry1596
garishness1598
maggot ostentation1598
ostent1609
flaunta1625
spectability1637
vantation1637
fastuousness1649
fastuosity1656
finery1656
parade1656
phantastry1656
ostentatiousness1658
éclat1704
pretension1706
braw1724
swell1724
showiness1730
ostensibility1775
fanfaronade1784
display1816
showing off1822
glimmer1827
tigerism1836
peacockery1844
show-off1846
flare1847
peacockism1854
swank1854
tigerishness1869
flashness1888
flamboyance1891
peacockishness1892
flamboyancy1896
swankiness1920
plushness1949
glitziness1982
fantasia-
fantastication-
a1475 Revelations St. Birgitta (Garrett) (1929) 111 (MED) The eyghen ioyed of the fairnesse of my chekes for ostentacioun and schewyng of pryde.
a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 139 Grace also techiþ..to eschue veyne plesaunce & ostentacion.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. ajv The fonde & barbarous ostentation of superfluous riches.
1577 R. Stanyhurst Treat. Descr. Irelande vi. f. 20/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I A flaunting ostentation of a roysting kynde of rhetorike.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis ii. xvii. 117 Vnder colour of seeking to learne wisdome, but indeed to make ostentation of his owne.
1661 Grand Deb. Rev. & Alteration Bk. Common Prayer 22 The ostentation of his good works, is not the work of a good Christian.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 255. ¶8 This often sets him on empty Boasts and Ostentations of himself.
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 15 Hence ostentation here, with tawdry art, Pants for the vulgar praise which fools impart.
1792 W. Bligh Voy. to South Sea vi. 81 Among people so free from ostentation as the Otaheiteans..the strictness with which the punctilios of rank are observed, is surprising.
1816 J. Austen Emma II. viii. 130 It depends upon the character of those who handle it... There would have been either the ostentation of a coxcomb, or the evasions of a mind too weak to defend its own vanities. View more context for this quotation
1848 W. M. Thackeray Bk. Snobs xx. 74 The mean pomp and ostentation which distinguish our banquets on grand field-days.
1921 J. Galsworthy To Let 270 There was an ostentation..about a car he considered provocative in the prevailing mood of Labour.
1958 J. K. Galbraith Affluent Society v. 45 It was a time..of incredible ostentation. Great limestone mansions were rising in New York.
2001 Wired Apr. 191/1 The inclination among Swedes to shun ostentation, accept modest rewards, be good team players.
a. The action or an act of showing, exhibiting, or displaying something; a manifestation, demonstration, show, exhibition, or display (of something). Obsolete.In quot. 1865: = demonstration n. 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > [noun]
uppingc950
showingOE
propositiona1382
evidencec1384
musterc1400
manifestation?a1425
demonstrationc1450
ostension1474
demonstrance1509
ostentationa1513
forthsetting1528
apparition1533
manifesting1536
outshow1547
objection1554
displaying1556
proclamation1567
discovery1576
remonstrance1583
appearance1587
explicature1592
ostent1600
object1609
showing forth1615
innotescencea1631
presentment1637
deplication1648
display1661
exertion1668
extraversion1675
exhibitiona1677
exertment1696
show-off1776
unfoldment1850
outcrop1854
outplay1859
eclosion1889
society > communication > manifestation > [noun] > a manifestation
showingOE
spectacle1483
ostentationa1513
demonstration1517
objection1554
manifest1561
reflection1590
object1609
manifestation1646
avatar1850
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1926) I. 144 The Sone of God of maieste, that js the wisdome and ostentacioune of the powere of the fadere, be his blist angell Gabriell sal schaw thé his tendir luf.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) ii. xvi. sig. I.vii All theyr wonderfull workes drawe to no fruteful ende, but to a fruitlesse ostentacion, & shewe.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1357/2 With such other false ostentations of immanitie.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iv. i. 207 Publish it, that she is dead indeede, Maintaine a mourning ostentation . View more context for this quotation
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 4 When..they make ostentation heereof in the Market, or publique Stage, they suffer them to bite their owne flesh.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vii. 316 Singing, toucking of kettle Drummes, sounding of Trumpets, and other ostentations of ioy.
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) X. 221 For ostentation of strength and valour, at their publick sights and shows.
1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia V. xix. iv. 472 Finck to ride out reconnoitering..and to make motions and ostentations.
b. A spectacular display or exhibition; a spectacle. Obsolete. rare.In quot. 1822 passing into sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > a public show or spectacle > [noun]
spectaclea1340
speculationc1440
steracle14..
triumphc1503
show1565
sprank1568
ostentation1598
presentationa1616
exposition1649
gauds1652
raree-show1681
spectacle1749
exhibition1761
draw1881
spectacular1890
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. i. 106 The King would haue me present the Princesse..with some delightfull ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or fierworke. View more context for this quotation
1822 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 25 May 1/3 While at Constantinople, his Excellency the English Ambassador had an audience with the Grand Seignior. The famed splendour of the Sublime Porte and those scenes which generally invite the attention of all Christians to witness the ostentation [etc.].
c. Mere or false show, appearance, or pretence; an instance of this. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [noun]
hue971
glozea1300
showingc1300
coloura1325
illusionc1340
frontc1374
simulationc1380
visage1390
cheera1393
sign?a1425
countenance?c1425
study?c1430
cloak1526
false colour1531
visure1531
face1542
masquery?1544
show1547
gloss1548
glass1552
affectation1561
colourableness1571
fashion1571
personage?1571
ostentation1607
disguise1632
lustrementa1641
grimace1655
varnish1662
masquerade1674
guisea1677
whitewash1730
varnish1743
maya1789
vraisemblance1802
Japan1856
veneering1865
veneer1868
affectedness1873
candy coating1885
simulance1885
window dressing1903
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 454 In truth there was no such thing, and all was but a fantasticall ostentation.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ii. 21 He..who thinks, by such weak policies and ostentations..to gaine beleife and absolution.
1662 H. Hibbert Exercitationes Theologicæ 122 in Syntagma Theologicum Ye have learned..not to be guided by the ostentation or umbratical shews of any plausible tongue.
1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. iv. ii. 157 Regulus has lost his Son... The Boy had a large set of Nags,..Dogs..and Black-birds; Regulus kill'd all of them about the Funeral Pile: This was not the Reality, but the Ostentation of Grief.
1841 R. W. Emerson Ess. 1st Ser. (Boston ed.) ii. 45 I hear a preacher announce for his text and topic the expediency of one of the institutions of his church... Do I not know that with all this ostentation of examining the grounds of the institution, he will do no such thing?
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch III. xlv. 33 Nothing is more offensive than this ostentation of reform, where there is no real amelioration.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xiv. 219 He proceeded to untie and run over the contents of the papers, with a serious face and what seemed an ostentation of delay.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1450