παραδείκνυμι

Forms

πᾰρᾰδείκνῡμῐ (paradeíknūmi) ^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + δείκνυμι (deíknūmi, “to show”).^[1] A later present παραδεικνύω (paradeiknúō) occurs in Isocrates and Polybius.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Isocrates uses it of testing gold by showing other pieces side by side with it, and Xenophon of handing over tribute money for a set purpose.^[3][2][4]

Semantic evolution

The first sense is to show one thing beside another so that they can be compared, and Plato uses it without an object, of arguing by examples.^[3][2] In the middle Demosthenes uses it of putting one's achievements on show.^[2][3]

Hellenistic Greek used it mainly for pointing something out: Polybius often uses it with an indirect question or a clause, of showing how and why something happened.^[3][2] Papyri of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC use it in administration, for formally handing over pledges, land or flocks and for assigning land.^[3] The Septuagint uses it of revealing or making manifest.^[5] Plutarch uses it in a bad sense, of exposing someone, and Apollonius Dyscolus of grammatical demonstration.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 5th–4th century BC – Isocrates uses it of showing things side by side, and Xenophon of handing over tribute money.^[3][2]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it of arguing by examples.^[3][2]
• 3rd century BC – Papyri use it of pointing out and of handing over land, flocks or pledges.^[3]
• 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it of showing how and why things happened; the Septuagint uses it of revealing.^[3][2][5]
• 2nd century AD – Apollonius Dyscolus uses the passive of grammatical demonstration.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To show side by side, exhibit for comparison; without an object, to use examples, make comparisons.^[3][2]
2. To point out, indicate; with a clause, to show how or that something is.^[3][2]
3. (middle) To put on show, display.^[2][3]
4. To represent as; in a bad sense, to expose, show up.^[3]
5. To make over formally, hand over; to assign land or a task.^[3][2]
6. (Septuagint) To reveal, make manifest.^[5]
7. (grammar) To demonstrate.^[3]

Related words

• δείκνυμι (deíknūmi)
• παράδειγμα (parádeigma)
• ἐπιδείκνυμι (epideíknumi)
• ἀποδείκνυμι (apodeíknūmi)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
5. ^ a b c Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft