▪ I. † oˈstentate, ppl. a. Obs. rare—1.
[ad. L. ostentāt-us, pa. pple. of ostentāre: see next.]
Boasted, vaingloriously displayed.
| 1615 T. Adams Blacke Devill 53 Like the speckled innocency of the Papists in their ostentate charity. |
▪ II. ostentate, v. Now rare (? only U.S.).
(ˈɒstənteɪt)
[f. L. ostentāt-, ppl. stem of ostentāre, freq. of ostend-ĕre: see ostend.]
1. trans. To make a show of, show off, display ostentatiously or boastfully.
| c 1540 Surr. Northampton Priory in Prance Addit. Narr. Pop. Plot 36 Christs Holy Evangely, which..wee did ostentate and openly devant to keepe most exactly. 1622 Fotherby's Atheom. Pref. 20. 1676 Doctrine of Devils 181 He was not for extravagant Rambles, as most Criticks are; Vain-gloriously to ostentate their great Reading, and Subtile Conjectures, upon small, or no occasions. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. vii. v. (1852) 546 This proud Thraso would in his preaching ostentate skill in Latin, and in Greek. 1886 American XII. 264 The viburnums ostentate their cymes of fruit. 1889 Ibid. 21 Dec. 192/1 San Marco..ostentates upon the upper portion of its fa{cced}ade all the florid detail of the Venetian manner. |
† b. intr. for refl. To boast. Obs.
| 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals iii. iii. 323 Let not him that is Head of a Faction, ostentate too much. |
† 2. To show, display. Obs.
| 1630 Lord Banians & Persees 37 Not ostentating himselfe to publike view, but living recluse. |