All 3 Uses of
demonstrate
in
The Idiot
- As they cannot fail to recognize Burdovsky's right (seeing that it is mathematically demonstrable), it is just as well that the witnesses should be your friends.†
Chpt 2.8 *demonstrable = capable of being demonstrated or provedstandard suffix: The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.
- How can morality have need of my last breaths, and why should I die listening to the consolations offered by the prince, who, without doubt, would not omit to demonstrate that death is actually a benefactor to me?†
Chpt 3.7demonstrate = show
- You remember, perhaps, that you were in full possession of your reason during this succession of fantastic images; even that you acted with extraordinary logic and cunning while surrounded by murderers who hid their intentions and made great demonstrations of friendship, while waiting for an opportunity to cut your throat.†
Chpt 3.10
Definitions:
-
(1)
(demonstrate as in: It demonstrates my point.) to showThe exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." -- show how to do something
- "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." -- show how something works
- "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." -- showed to be true or proved
-
(2)
(demonstrate as in: demonstrate to protest) a public display supporting a cause -- usually joining with others in a political protest
- (3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)