ostentātĭo (noun F) : id..
* In gen., a showing, exhibition, display (very rare). in armorum magis quam togarum ostentatione, Plin. Pan. 56 fin.: cognomen Imperiosi ... ab ostentatione saevitiae ascitum,from an open display,Liv. 7, 4.
* In partic.
* 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.
* 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,feigned pain,Sen. Ep. 99, 15: (captivi) producti ostentationis causā,Caes. B. C. 3, 71 fin.: qui latius ostentationis causā vagarentur,id. B. G. 7, 45.

s. TLL