from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Show \Show\, v. t. [imp. {Showed}; p. p. {Shown}or {Showed}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Showing}. It is sometimes written {shew},
{shewed}, {shewn}, {shewing}.] [OE. schowen, shewen, schewen,
shawen, AS. sce['a]wian, to look, see, view; akin to OS.
scaw?n, OFries. skawia, D. schouwen, OHG. scouw?n, G.
schauen, Dan. skue, Sw. sk?da, Icel. sko?a, Goth. usskawjan
to waken, skuggwa a mirror, Icel. skuggy shade, shadow, L.
cavere to be on one's guard, Gr. ??? to mark, perceive, hear,
Skr. kavi wise. Cf. {Caution}, {Scavenger}, {Sheen}.]
1. To exhibit or present to view; to place in sight; to
display; -- the thing exhibited being the object, and
often with an indirect object denoting the person or thing
seeing or beholding; as, to show a house; show your
colors; shopkeepers show customers goods (show goods to
customers).
[1913 Webster]
Go thy way, shew thyself to the priest. --Matt.
viii. 4.
[1913 Webster]
Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can heaven show more?
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To exhibit to the mental view; to tell; to disclose; to
reveal; to make known; as, to show one's designs.
[1913 Webster]
Shew them the way wherein they must walk. --Ex.
xviii. 20.
[1913 Webster]
If it please my father to do thee evil, then I will
shew it thee, and send thee away. --1 Sam. xx.
13.
[1913 Webster]
3. Specifically, to make known the way to (a person); hence,
to direct; to guide; to asher; to conduct; as, to show a
person into a parlor; to show one to the door.
[1913 Webster]
4. To make apparent or clear, as by evidence, testimony, or
reasoning; to prove; to explain; also, to manifest; to
evince; as, to show the truth of a statement; to show the
causes of an event.
[1913 Webster]
I 'll show my duty by my timely care. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
5. To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to show favor.
[1913 Webster]
Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me.
--Ex. xx. 6.
[1913 Webster]
{To show forth}, to manifest; to publish; to proclaim.
{To show his paces}, to exhibit the gait, speed, or the like;
-- said especially of a horse.
{To show off}, to exhibit ostentatiously.
{To show up}, to expose. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]