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Ostensible breaks down into ob ("in front of") and tendere ("to stretch"). Something ostensible has been stretched out in front of you, kind of: it's something presented as true, or declared as true, even if it's not true.
You can see tendere, also, in tend, tendency, and tend_______, meaning biased toward a particular controversial opinion. Tend_______ statements are often a stretch! They're stretched thin, pulled toward the speaker's existing biases.
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"OSTENSIBLE"
Something ostensible seems true or is said to be true, but isn't necessarily true.
In other words, "ostensible" means "apparent but perhaps fake."
Pronunciation:
oss TEN sib ull
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "an ostensible thing."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was ostensible.")
Other forms:
Ostensibly, ostensibility.
"Ostensive" means the same thing as "ostensible." But we'll keep focusing on "ostensible" because it's much more common.
How to use it:
Talk about people's ostensible reason or purpose for doing something--often because you're suggesting that there are other, hidden, real reasons or purposes. Or, talk about people's ostensible attitudes or beliefs or goals or desires--again, often to suggest that there are other, hidden, real ones.
You might have an ostensible friend or ally (someone who might not really be one), an ostensible leader or teacher (someone who might not really be leading or teaching), or an ostensible commander (someone who might not really be wielding power).
Ostensible charm might not really be charm, ostensible freedom might not really be freedom, ostensible approval might not really exist, ostensible fixes or solutions might not help, etc.
examples:
Before the interview, prepare some ostensible reasons you want that particular job. Although it's honest, "the money" isn't the best answer.
She's on the show, ostensibly, to talk about weight management. She'll probably focus on her new book.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "ostensible" means when you can explain it without saying "only appearing that way" or "professed but not genuine."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "I'm not convinced by (someone's) ostensible (earnestness, caring, concern, charity, honesty, etc.)"
Example: "I'm not convinced by Dan's ostensible eagerness to help strangers start their own businesses online. Keep it moving, Dan."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
This month, we're playing with lines of poetry that include words we've checked out together in previous issues. I’ll give you a few lines from the poem, with a blank where our word appears, along with its definition. See if you can come up with it. Each answer will appear in the following issue. Enjoy!
From the previous issue:
From Emily Dickinson's poem "You left me – Sire – two Legacies –:"
"You left me Boundaries of Pain –
_________ as the Sea –
Between Eternity and Time –
Your Consciousness – and me –"
Definition: able to hold a lot of things or take in a lot of things. (Hints: three syllables, starts with C.)
Answer: capacious.
Try this today:
From James Galvin's poem "On First Seeing a U.S. Forest Service Aerial Photo of Where I Live:"
"I live on a needle of a branch
Of a cedar tree, h___-b_____,
Striving in six directions,
Rooted in rock..."
Definition: tough, gruff, and not easily giving up.
review today's word:
1. One opposite of OSTENSIBLE is
A. ACTUAL
B. GIVEN
C. EASY
2. On their _____ website, the cosmetics company lists ten ostensible benefits, in order of increasing _____.
A. sleek .. importance
B. shady .. implausibility
C. newly launched .. complexity
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. A
2. B
Ostensible breaks down into ob ("in front of") and tendere ("to stretch"). Something ostensible has been stretched out in front of you, kind of: it's something presented as true, or declared as true, even if it's not true.
"OSTENSIBLE" Something ostensible seems true or is said to be true, but isn't necessarily true. Part of speech:
Before the interview, prepare some ostensible reasons you want that particular job. Although it's honest, "the money" isn't the best answer.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "ostensible" means when you can explain it without saying "only appearing that way" or "professed but not genuine."
Fill in the blanks: "I'm not convinced by (someone's) ostensible (earnestness, caring, concern, charity, honesty, etc.)"
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. One opposite of OSTENSIBLE is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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