ostensive

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɑˈstɛnsɪv/ UK /ɒˈstɛnsɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
directly demonstrating or pointing out, especially by example

A child learns the word red through ostensive pointing at colored objects.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · directly demonstrating or... demonstrative indicative ostensible illustrativeexhibitive

Word family

Derived forms ostensively

Related forms ostensible ostentationostend

Etymology

From Late Latin 'ostensivus', from Latin 'ostensus', past participle of 'ostendere' ('to show, display'), from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'tendere' ('to stretch').

ostendere Latin tendere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# ostensive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɑˈstɛnsɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ɒˈstɛnsɪv/

## Meanings
1. directly demonstrating or pointing out, especially by example

## Examples
- A child learns the word red through ostensive pointing at colored objects.

## Synonyms
- demonstrative
- indicative
- ostensible
- illustrative
- exhibitive

## Derived Forms
- ostensively

## Related Forms
- ostensible
- ostentation
- ostend

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ostendere
- Root: tendere

## Etymology
From Late Latin 'ostensivus', from Latin 'ostensus', past participle of 'ostendere' ('to show, display'), from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'tendere' ('to stretch').

## AI Etymology
Ostensive is from Late Latin 'ostensivus', from Latin 'ostensus', past participle of 'ostendere' ('to show, display'), from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'tendere' ('to stretch'). Important recorded forms include ostendere (Latin) and tendere (Latin). The modern sense follows that older lexical line closely. In current use it covers directly demonstrating or pointing out, especially by example. The wider family includes derived forms such as ostensively and related words such as ostensible, ostentation, and ostend.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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