Demonstrate, Demonstration
The word demonstrate has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root men- (to think) and Latin mens (mind), memini (I remember, I am mindful of), and monere (to admonish, to warn, to advise). From monere comes Latin monstrum (a divine omen, portent, sign) and monstrare (to point out, to show), words which end up in English in the early 14th century as the word monster. But I digress.
When the Latin prefix de- (entirely) is added to monstrare, the word demonstrare (to prove, to establish, to point out, to indicate) is formed. By the 14th century, the English word demonstration referred to a proof that something was true. In the 1570s, ‘to demonstrate’ meant to point to a truth by argument or deduction. By the 1680s, a ‘demonstration’ was a method of teaching.
A demonstration, meaning a public show of feeling, often a mass meeting and procession, is from 1839. The word demonstrator, a participant in a demonstration, is from 1870.
When the Latin prefix de- (entirely) is added to monstrare, the word demonstrare (to prove, to establish, to point out, to indicate) is formed. By the 14th century, the English word demonstration referred to a proof that something was true. In the 1570s, ‘to demonstrate’ meant to point to a truth by argument or deduction. By the 1680s, a ‘demonstration’ was a method of teaching.
A demonstration, meaning a public show of feeling, often a mass meeting and procession, is from 1839. The word demonstrator, a participant in a demonstration, is from 1870.
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