ostentātĭo

I. In gen., a showing, exhibition, display (very rare). in armorum magis quam togarum ostentatione, Plin. Pan. 56 fin.: cognomen Imperiosi ... ab ostentatione saevitiae ascitum, Liv. 7, 4.—

II. In partic.

A. An idle show, vain display, pomp, parade, ostentation (the predom. signif. of the word): vitanda etiam ingenii ostentationis suspicio, Cic. de Or. 2, 82, 333: magnifica et gloriosa, id. Fl. 22, 52: insolens, id. Par. 6, 1, 42: et gloria, id. Rab. Post. 14, 38: inanis et simulatio, id. Off. 2, 12, 43: et venditatio, id. Lael. 23, 86: sui, Caes. B. C. 1, 4.—In plur.: multorum annorum ostentationes meas nunc in discrimen esse adductas, that my many years' boastful promises (of an able administration) are now brought to the test, Cic. Att. 5, 13, 1.—

B. A false, deceitful show, pretence, simulation, deception: consul veritate, non ostentatione popularis, Cic. Agr. 1, 7, 23; cf.: ut in fronte ostentatio sit, intus veritas occultetur, id. Fin. 2, 24, 77: doloris, Sen. Ep. 99, 15: (captivi) producti ostentationis causā, Caes. B. C. 3, 71 fin.: qui latius ostentationis causā vagarentur, id. B. G. 7, 45.