Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-PLAY', v.t. [Fr. deployer, and deploy is the same word. It is a different orthography of deplier, to unfold; Arm. displega; Sp. desplegar; It. spiegare; dis and Fr. plier, Sp. plegar, It. piegare, to fold; L. plico, W. plygu, Gr. πλεκω; and απλοος, απλοω, to unfold, may be from the same root.]

1. Literally, to unfold: hence, to open; to spread wide; to expand. The northern wind his wings did broad display. – Spenser.
2. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the eyes, or to the mind; to make manifest. The works of nature display the power and wisdom of the Supreme Being. Christian charity displays the effects of true piety. A dress, simple and elegant, displays female taste and beauty to advantage.
3. To carve; to dissect and open. He carves, displays, and cuts up to a wonder. – Spectator.
4. To set to view ostentatiously. – Shak.
5. To discover. [Not in use.] – Spenser.
6. To open; to unlock. [Not used.] – B. Jonson.