Where does “ostensibly” come from?
Ostensibly derives from French ostensible, from Latin ostensus meaning "shown or displayed," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.
ostensibly (English): Seemingly, apparently, on the surface
Definitions
- Seemingly, apparently, on the surface
Ancestry of “ostensibly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ostensible | Apparent, evident; meant for open display;... |
| 2 | French | ostensible | apparent |
| 3 | Latin | ostēnsus | — |
| 4 | Latin | ostendō | to expose to view, exhibit, show |
| 5 | Latin | obs- | in front of |
| 6 | Latin | ob- | towards; against |
| 7 | Latin | obolus | obolus (Greek coin) |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ὀβολός | obol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ὀβελός | a spit, rod; a horizontal line |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | βέλος | missile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly... |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷélHos | — |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷelH- | to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing |