c.1374, from L. demonstrationem, from demonstrare, from de- "entirely" + monstrare "to point out, show," from monstrum "divine omen, wonder." Meaning "public show of feeling," usually with a mass meeting and a procession, is from 1839. Demonstrative, of persons, in the sense of "characterized by outward expression of feelings" is from 1819.
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view; "the presentation of new data"; "he gave the customer a demonstration" [syn: presentation]
2.
a show of military force or preparedness; "he confused the enemy with feints and demonstrations"
3.
a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature); "there were violent demonstrations against the war"
4.
proof by a process of argument or a series of proposition proving an asserted conclusion
5.
a visual presentation showing how something works; "the lecture was accompanied by dramatic demonstrations"; "the lecturer shot off a pistol as a demonstration of the startle response"
Dem`on*stra"tion\, n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F. d['e]monstration.]1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason. Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called "proofs;" and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration. --Locke. 2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a manifestation; a show. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? --Shak. Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. --Prescott. 3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation. 4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack. 5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself. 6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; -- opposed to Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect.
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