ostensible: [18] Ostensible means literally ‘that can be shown’. It comes via French from medieval Latin ostensibilis, a derivative of the Latin verb ostendere ‘show’ (itself a compound formed from the prefix ob- ‘in front of’ and tendere ‘stretch’, source of English extend, tend, tense etc). Its original meaning ‘showable’ survived into English (‘You should send me two letters – one confidential, another ostensible’, Jeremy Bentham, 1828), but seems to have died out by the mid-19th century.
Two metaphorical strands came with it, though. One, ‘vainly conspicuous’, goes right back to ostendere, and is still preserved in English ostentation [15], although it has disappeared as far as ostensible is concerned. The other, ‘presented as real but not so’, is today the central meaning of the adjective. => extend, ostentation, tend, tense
ostensible (adj.)
1762, "capable of being shown, presentable," from French ostensible, from Latin ostens-, past participle stem of ostendere "to show, expose to view; to stretch out, spread before; exhibit, display," from ob "in front of" (see ob-) + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Meaning "apparent, professed" is from 1771.
中文解释
1. os- "in front of" + tens- + -ible.2. 字面含义：stretched to the front. => show, expose to view, exhibit, display.3. => apparent, professed.4. 也就是拉伸到前面、表面。
实用例句
1. The ostensible reason for his absence was illness.
他假托生病缺勤。
来自《权威词典》
2. The ostensible reason wasn't the real reason.
表面上的理由并不是真正的理由.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies.
这些会议声称旨在收集有关金融策略的信息。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Morris Townsend though he was by no means ostensible, was the real occasion of the feast.
尽管没有讲明,莫里斯·汤森德显然是这场宴请的真正目标.
来自辞典例句
5. He resigned secretaryship on the ostensible ground of health.