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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Show


SHOW, verb transitive preterit tense showed; participle passive shown or showed. It is sometimes written shew, shewed, shewn. [If the radical letter lost was a labial, show coincides with the Gr.]

1. To exhibit or present to the view of others.

Go thy way, show thyself to the priest. Matthew 8:1.

2. To afford to the eye or to notice; to contain in a visible form.

Nor want we skill o rart, from whence to raise

Magnificence; and what can heaven show more? Milton.

3. To make or enable to see.

4. To make or enable to perceive.

5. To make to know; to cause to understand; to make known; to teach or inform.

Know, I am sent

To show thee what shall come in future days. Milton.

6. To prove; to manifest.

I'll show my duty by my timely care. Dryden.

7. T oinform; to teach; with of.

The time cometh when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. John 16:1.

8. To point out, as a guide.

Thou shalt show them th eway in which they must walk. Exodus 18:1.

9. To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to show favor or mercy on any person.

10. To prove by evidence, testimony or authentic registers or documents.

They could not show their father's house. Ezra 2:1.

11. To disclose; to make known.

I durst not show mine opinion. Job 32:1.

12. To discover; to explain; as, to show a dream or interpretation.

To show forth, to manifest; to publish; to proclaim.

SHOW, verb intransitive

1. To appear; to look; to be in appearance.

Just such she shows before a rising storm. Dryden.

2. To have appearance; to become or suit well or ill.

My lord of York, it better show'd with you. Obs. Shak.

SHOW, noun

1. Superficial appearance; not reality.

Mild heav'n

Disapproves that care, though wise in show. Milton.

2. A spectacle; something offered to view for money.

3. Ostentatious display or parade.

I envy none their pageantry and show. Young.

4. Appearance as an object of notice.

The city itself makes the noblest showof any in the world. Addison.

5. Public appearance, in distinction of concealment; as an open show.

6. Semblance; likeness.

In show plebeian angel militant. Milton.

7. Seciousness; plausibility.

But a short exile must for show precede. Dryden.

8. External appearance.

And forc'd, at least in show, to prize it more. Dryden.

9. Exhibition in view; as a show o fcattle, or cattle-show.

10. Pomp; magnificent spectacle.

As for triumphs, masks, feasts, and such shows- Bacon.

11. A phantom; as a fairy show.

12. Representative action; as a dumb show.

13. External appearance; hypocritical pretense.

Who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers. Luke 20:1.