ostensible †that may be shown; †conspicuous; exhibited as actual and genuine. XVIII. — F. — medL. ostensibilis, f. ostens-, pp. stem of ostendere, f. OB- + tendere stretch; see -IBLE.
So ostensory (-ORY1) monstrance. XIX (earlier in foreign forms ostensorio, -orium, -oir). — medL. ostensōrium. ostentation XV. — (O)F. — L., f. ostentāre, frequent. of ostendere.

os·ten·si·ble / äˈstensəbəl; əˈsten-/ • adj. stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so: the delay may have a deeper cause than the ostensible reason.DERIVATIVES: os·ten·si·bil·i·ty / -ˌstensəˈbilitē/ n.

OSTENSIBLE

Apparent; visible; exhibited.

Ostensible authority is power that a principal, either by design or through the absence of ordinary care, permits others to believe his or her agent possesses.