display English · revision 4121

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1292|origins=la displicare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈspleɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|desplayen]], displayen,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|despleier]], Old French desploiir “to unfold, spread out” (modern French déployer),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|displicāre|t=to scatter]], in Medieval Latin “to unfold”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from dis- “apart, un-” and [[m|la|plicāre|t=to fold]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*plek-|t=to plait]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is not connected with [[play]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[deploy]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) and [[splay]] was originally a shortening of it.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To unfold, spread out, unfurl”, properly of sails and banners: 1292 in the OED,^(OED 1989) probably before 1300 in Arthour and Merlin according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To reveal, expose to view” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) probably about 1380 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) “To manifest, make perceptible” is from 1575,^(OED 1989) “to show off, exhibit ostentatiously” from the early 17th century (1628),^(Cresswell 2021)^(OED 1989) and “to reveal unintentionally” from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The noun first meant a description, in 1583, now obsolete;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) an exhibition or show is from 1665,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and ostentation is first recorded in Byron's Parisina (1816).^(Barnhart 1988) In ornithology, a pattern of behaviour that communicates visually, it is from 1901.^(OED 1989) The presentation of signals on a screen is from 1945, of radar,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and by 1960 of computers.^(Etymonline) The ''display window'' is attested by 1893.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1292 – to unfold, unfurl.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – to exhibit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1583 – noun, a description.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1665 – an exhibition.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1816 – ostentation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1901 – a bird's display.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1945 – a radar or screen display.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put or hold up to view; to [[exhibit]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To show information or images on a [[screen]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give evidence of; to [[manifest]]: ''displayed great courage''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To show off.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of displaying, or a public exhibition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Goods or objects set out for the public to see.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A demonstration or manifestation: ''a display of temper''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A pattern of behaviour, as of a bird, used to communicate visually.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An electronic device or screen that presents information visually.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[displayable]]

+ * [[displayer]]

+ * [[undisplayed]]

+ * [[predisplay]]

+ * [[redisplay]]

+ * [[courtship display]]

+ * [[liquid-crystal display]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[deploy]]

+ * [[splay]]

+ * [[ply]]

+ * [[pliable]]

+ * [[complicate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage groups display with array, panoply, parade, pomp and show as words for an impressive or ostentatious exhibition.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}