dumb show

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dumb show

noun dumb shows · dumb-show · dumbshow

countable, uncountable A performance during which the players do not speak; mime. O it offends mee to the Soule, to ſee a robuſtious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Paſſion to tatters, to verie ragges, to ſplit the eares of the Groundlings: who (for the moſt part) are capeable of nothing, but inexplicable dumbe ſhewes, & noiſe: […]
countable, uncountable The use of gesture in an attempt to convey meaning. The move is obviously pure piffle: a dumbshow designed to placate (or at least entertain) the conservative base while distracting and antagonising rivals.

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"dumb show." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/dumb%20show. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

dumb show. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/dumb%20show

Chicago

"dumb show." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/dumb%20show.

BibTeX

@misc{dumb_show_2026,
  title = {dumb show},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/dumb%20show},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}