showman
UK[ˈʃəʊmən]US[ˈʃoʊmən]
n
a person who is skilled at entertaining people and attracting public attention, especially in the theatre or in politics.
Morpheme Breakdown
show
man
show
to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe, inspect, examine
man
person, human being, adult male
Etymology
the word "showman" is a transparent english compound formed from the native germanic elements "show" and "man". the term "show" originates from the old english verb scēawian, which carried meanings related to seeing and examining, and evolved to denote the act of presenting something for others to see. the element "man" derives from old english mann, a generic term for a person, which is commonly used to form agent nouns. coined in the early 18th century, "showman" literally means "a person who puts on a show," originally referring to the proprietor of a circus or fairground entertainment. its meaning has since broadened to describe anyone, especially in performance or public life, who is a skilled and flamboyant presenter of themselves or their work.
Analysis
Structure: show + man
show: from old english scēawian meaning "to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe, inspect, examine". in this compound, it functions as the core concept of a performance or display.
man: from old english mann meaning "person, human being, adult male". in this compound, it functions as an agent noun suffix, indicating a person associated with the activity.
Examples
the legendary circus owner was a born showman who knew how to captivate an audience.
the politician's speech was less about policy and more about the performance of a seasoned showman.
he may not be the best singer, but his energetic stage presence makes him a real showman.