Lewis & Short

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ostento, āvi, ātum (inf. pass. ostentarier, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 129), 1, v. freq. a. [ostendo], to present to view, to show, exhibit (class.).

  1. I. In gen.: alicui jugula sua pro capite alicujus, to present, offer, Cic. Att. 1, 16, 4: aliquem, Verg. A. 12, 479: campos nitentes, id. ib. 6, 678: Sidonias opes, id. ib. 4, 75: passum capillum, Caes. B. G. 7, 48: liberos, Suet. Aug. 34: quo res sapsa loco sese ostentat, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 325 Müll. (Ann. v. 372 Vahl.).
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. To show off with vanity or boastfulness, to display, make a display of, boast of, vaunt: amorem tibi meum, Cic. Fam. 10, 3, 4: quid me ostentem, why should I make a display of myself? id. ib. 1, 4, 3: et prae se ferre, id. Att. 2, 23, 3: memoriae ostentandae causā, Auct. Her. 2, 30, 47: clientelas, Dolabell. ap. Cic. Fam. 9, 9, 2: triumphos suos, Sall. J. 31, 10: eum ipsum aliis, id. ib. 49, 4: se in aliis rebus, to exhibit themselves, Cic. Cael. 28, 67: Ambiorigem ostentant fidei faciundae causā, Caes. B. G. 5, 41.
    2. B. To hold out or up as an example: desine Tydiden vultuque et murmure nobis Ostentare, Ov. M. 13, 350.
    3. C. To hold out for the purpose of offering or giving; to proffer, promise: alterā manu fert lapidem, panem ostentat alterā, Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 18: agrum, Cic. Agr. 2, 28, 78: praemia, Sall. J. 66, 1; 89, 1; cf.: praemia modo, modo formidinem, id. ib. 23, 1: praedam, id. ib. 68, 3.
    4. D. To hold out in a threatening manner; to threaten, menace: caedem, servitutem, Cic. Fam. 4, 14, 1: periculum capitis, id. Clu. 8, 25: minas, Liv. 2, 42.
    5. E. To show by speech or signs; to indicate, point out, signify, reveal, disclose: (largitio) verbis ostentari potest, re verā fieri, nisi exhausto aerario, nullo pacto potest, Cic. Agr. 2, 4, 18: tibi me istis esse familiarem, id. Fam. 9, 6, 2: principem, to reveal, Plin. Pan. 4, 7.
      With rel.-clause: ostentans, quanta eos … invidia maneret showing, declaring, Suet. Caes. 14.