ostendere

Ostendere is a Latin verb meaning to show, display, or reveal; to present something to someone; and, in a broader sense, to prove or demonstrate. It is used both literally, for presenting a physical object, and figuratively, for demonstrating a point or argument. The English verb ostend, and words such as ostentation and ostentatious, derive from this family.

Grammar and principal parts: Ostendere is a transitive verb of the third conjugation. Its principal parts are ostendo, ostendere, ostendi, ostentus. The present infinitive is ostendere; the present passive infinitive is ostendi. The supine is ostentum, and the perfect passive participle is ostentus. It forms standard active and passive paradigms (for example, ostendō, ostendis, ostendit; ostendor, ostenderis, ostentur).

Usage and syntax: The verb takes a direct object in the accusative to designate what is shown (for example, librum mihi ostendit, “he shows me the book”). It can take a dative of the person to whom it is shown. Content can be expressed by a quod or ut clause, or by the infinitive in indirect statement (e.g., id esse verum, “that this is true,” shown). Metaphorically, ostendere can mean to expose or reveal a fact, a quality, or a demonstration.

Cognates and influence: The verb yields English cognates such as ostentatious, ostentation, and ostensible, through medieval Latin and French transmission. Related Latin terms include ostentatio (the act of showing) and ostensus/ostentus in participial form.

See also: demonstratio, probatio.