showing
UK[ˈʃəʊɪŋ]US[ˈʃoʊɪŋ]
n
an occasion when a film, television programme, piece of art, etc. is shown to the public
n
the quality or appearance that someone or something seems to have, especially when this is different from how they really are
n
a performance or result in a competition, election, etc.
Etymology
the word 'showing' is derived from the verb 'show', which entered old english as 'scēawian', meaning 'to look at, see, or inspect'. this old english term is of germanic origin, related to dutch 'schouwen' and german 'schauen'. the core semantic idea is one of making something visible or apparent to sight or understanding. the '-ing' suffix is the modern english descendant of the old english '-ung' or '-ing', a nominal suffix used to form action nouns from verbs. therefore, 'showing' literally denotes 'the act or instance of making something seen or known', a meaning that has remained consistent from its formation to its contemporary uses in contexts ranging from art exhibitions to electoral performances.
Analysis
the word 'showing' is a deverbal noun formed from the present participle of the verb 'show'. it is not productively segmented into separate morphemes in modern english without obscuring its transparent relationship to its base verb.
Examples
the local cinema has two showings of the new film every evening.
despite a strong showing in the opinion polls, the candidate lost the election.
her polite manner was just a showing, hiding her true frustration.