Etymologically
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show

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Forms

show m (invariable, or plural shows)[1][2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from English show, a noun recorded in English from 1561 in the sense “display, exhibition”, from the verb show (“to show”), of Germanic origin.[4][1][5][6] Italian took it with the sense “entertainment, spectacle”, and with it a series of English compounds: showgirl (1926), showman (1957), showdown (1921) and “show room” (1979).[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELI's first record is in the weekly Epoca of 3 January 1954, for a variety show, light entertainment on television or the stage.[4][1][6]

Semantic evolution

In Italian it names above all a television programme built around a comedian, a singer or a presenter with a strong personality, who introduces the other acts and takes part in them.[1][6] It was soon used more loosely for any spectacle, and for a performer's act on stage.[6][1] Colloquially it also means making a spectacle of oneself, as when a political meeting turns into a show, often with irony.[7][8][3] Phrases such as show business, talent show and road show came from English too.[1][8]

Timeline

  • 1561 – English show “display” is recorded.[4][1]
  • 1921 – Italian showdown is recorded.[5]
  • 1926 – Showgirl is recorded.[5]
  • 1954 – Show appears in Epoca.[4][1]
  • 1957 – Showman is recorded.[5]
  • 1979 – Show room is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A variety show, especially on television, built around a star performer or presenter: Lo show del sabato sera ha battuto ogni record.[1][2][8]
  2. The performance of an actor or a singer: Il suo show al teatro è durato tre ore.[1][7]
  3. (colloquial, often ironic) A scene in which someone puts themselves at the centre of attention, or makes a spectacle of themselves: Basta con questi show![7][8][3]
  4. (sport) An acrobatic exhibition, especially in water skiing.[7]

Word family

  • showgirl
  • showman
  • showdown
  • show business

Usage notes

In Italian the word is pronounced /ʃo/, or /ˈʃou/, closer to English.[2][8][7] It is masculine and usually invariable, though the English plural shows is also used.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
  2. ^ a b c Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
  3. ^ a b c d Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
  4. ^ a b c d e Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
  5. ^ a b c d e f Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b c d Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
  7. ^ a b c d e Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli