Show, v. i. [Written also shew.]
1. To exhibit or manifest one's self or itself;
to appear; to look; to be in appearance; to seem.
Just such she shows before a rising
storm.
Dryden.
All round a hedge upshoots, and shows
At distance like a little wood.
Tennyson.
2. To have a certain appearance, as well or
ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
My lord of York, it better showed with
you.
Shak.
To show off, to make a show; to display one's
self.
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. sceĆwian, 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).
Go thy way, shew thyself to the
priest.
Matt. viii. 4.
Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can heaven show more?
Milton.
2. To exhibit to the mental view; to tell; to
disclose; to reveal; to make known; as, to show one's
designs.
Shew them the way wherein they must
walk.
Ex. xviii. 20.
If it please my father to do thee evil, then I will
shew it thee, and send thee away.
1 Sam. xx.
13.
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.
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.
I 'll show my duty by my timely
care.
Dryden.
5. To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to
show favor.
Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me.
Ex. xx. 6.
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.]
Show (?), n. [Formerly written also
shew.] 1. The act of showing, or bringing
to view; exposure to sight; exhibition.
2. That which os shown, or brought to view;
that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a
traveling show; a cattle show.
As for triumphs, masks, feasts, and such
shows.
Bacon.
3. Proud or ostentatious display; parade;
pomp.
I envy none their pageantry and
show.
Young.
4. Semblance; likeness; appearance.
He through the midst unmarked,
In show plebeian angel militant
Of lowest order, passed.
Milton.
5. False semblance; deceitful appearance;
pretense.
Beware of the scribes, . . . which devour widows'
houses, and for a shew make long prayers.
Luke
xx. 46. 47.
6. (Med.) A discharge, from the vagina,
of mucus streaked with blood, occuring a short time before
labor.
7. (Mining) A pale blue flame, at the
top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of fire damp.
Raymond.
Show bill, a broad sheet containing an
advertisement in large letters. -- Show box,
a box xontaining some object of curiosity carried round as a
show. -- Show card, an advertising placard;
also, a card for displaying samples. -- Show
case, a gla?ed case, box, or cabinet for displaying
and protecting shopkeepers' wares, articles on exhibition in museums,
etc. -- Show glass, a glass which displays
objects; a mirror. -- Show of hands, a
raising of hands to indicate judgment; as, the vote was taken by a
show of hands. -- Show stone, a
piece of glass or crystal supposed to have the property of exhibiting
images of persons or things not present, indicating in that way future
events.