Display, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Displaying.]
Etymology: [OE. displaien, desplaien, OF. despleier, desploier, F. déployer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + pleier, ploier, plier, F. ployer, plier, to fold, bend, L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Deploy, Splay.]
1. To unfold; to spread wide; to expand; to stretch out; to spread. The northern wind his wings did broad display. Spenser.
2. (Mil.)
To extend the front of (a column), bringing it into line. Farrow.
3. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the sight, or to the mind; to make manifest. His statement . . . displays very clearly the actual condition of the army. Burke.
5 more senses
4. To make an exhibition of; to set in view conspicuously or ostentatiously; to exhibit for the sake of publicity; to parade. Proudly displaying the insignia of their order. Prescott.
5. (Print.)
To make conspicuous by large or prominent type.
6. To discover; to descry. [Obs.] And from his seat took pleasure to display The city so adorned with towers. Chapman.
Syn. -- To exhibit; show; manifest; spread out; parade; expand; flaunt.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Display, v. i.
To make a display; to act as one making a show or demonstration. Shak.
Display, n.
1. An opening or unfolding; exhibition; manifestation. Having witnessed displays of his power and grace. Trench.
2. Ostentatious show; exhibition for effect; parade. He died, as erring man should die, Without display, without parade. Byron.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for display; he lists it under ostentation.
Where he writes about it:
There may be great display or show with little substance; ostentation suggests something substantial to be shown. — from ostentation
Pageant and pageantry are inferior to pomp, denoting spectacular display designed to impress the public mind, and since the multitude is largely ignorant and thoughtless, the words pageant and pageantry have a suggestion of the transient and unsubstantial. — from ostentation