Show vs shew...

[Daniel Masse]

Hello !

I am presently reading a very old book (published by John Murray in 1892)
and I find that the verb "show" is replaced by "shew" in every single
occurrence. I doubt this could be a typographical error, but I have never
seen this spelling before (but I am French, and I probably don't know it
all...).

Has anybody ever encountered that spelling ?

[Bob Cunningham]

On Mon, 5 Dec 2005 18:29:34 +0100, "Daniel Masse"

Post by Daniel Masse
I am presently reading a very old book (published by John Murray in 1892)
and I find that the verb "show" is replaced by "shew" in every single
occurrence. I doubt this could be a typographical error, but I have never
seen this spelling before (but I am French, and I probably don't know it
all...).
Has anybody ever encountered that spelling ?

I haven't, but both British and American unabridged
dictionaries say that it's an obsolete or archaic variant of
"show".

"Shew" appeared as a pronunciation spelling of the way Ed
Sullivan supposedly said "show". (Ed Sullivan was the
master of ceremonies of a popular television show forty or
fifty years ago.)

[Daniel Masse]

Post by Bob Cunningham
I haven't, but both British and American unabridged
dictionaries say that it's an obsolete or archaic variant of
"show".
"Shew" appeared as a pronunciation spelling of the way Ed
Sullivan supposedly said "show". (Ed Sullivan was the
master of ceremonies of a popular television show forty or
fifty years ago.)

You're right ! I had not thought of checking my old Webster (1953) : it says
that "show" may be spelled "shew", specially by the British... Harrap's also
mentions it.

Thanks !

[Daniel Masse]

Post by Bob Cunningham
I haven't, but both British and American unabridged
dictionaries say that it's an obsolete or archaic variant of
"show".
"Shew" appeared as a pronunciation spelling of the way Ed
Sullivan supposedly said "show". (Ed Sullivan was the
master of ceremonies of a popular television show forty or
fifty years ago.)

You're right ! I had not thought of checking my old Webster (1953) : it says
that "show" may be spelled "shew", specially by the British... Harrap's also
mentions it.

Thanks !

[John Dean]

Post by Bob Cunningham
I haven't, but both British and American unabridged
dictionaries say that it's an obsolete or archaic variant of
"show".
"Shew" appeared as a pronunciation spelling of the way Ed
Sullivan supposedly said "show". (Ed Sullivan was the
master of ceremonies of a popular television show forty or
fifty years ago.)

it says that "show" may be spelled "shew", specially by the
British... Harrap's also mentions it.

You'll find it scattered through the King James Version of the Bible. I
actually worked with a bloke in the 1980s who chose to spell it that
way. It is considered strange and somewhat affected today.

[Stephen Calder]

Post by John Dean

Post by Bob Cunningham
I haven't, but both British and American unabridged
dictionaries say that it's an obsolete or archaic variant of
"show".
"Shew" appeared as a pronunciation spelling of the way Ed
Sullivan supposedly said "show". (Ed Sullivan was the
master of ceremonies of a popular television show forty or
fifty years ago.)

it says that "show" may be spelled "shew", specially by the
British... Harrap's also mentions it.

You'll find it scattered through the King James Version of the Bible. I
actually worked with a bloke in the 1980s who chose to spell it that
way. It is considered strange and somewhat affected today.

Right. But still prnounced the same way as "show."