Vertoon

Vertoon is a Dutch noun used to denote a display or manifestation of something, such as a quality, emotion, or power. It is formed from the verb tonen with the prefix ver-, and is most often found in formal, literary, or historical contexts. In contemporary use, vertoon is relatively rare, and speakers more commonly use synonyms such as weergave, manifestatie, or simply tonen to convey the idea of showing or displaying.

Usage of the term tends to be formal or rhetorical. It can appear in phrases like een vertoon van macht, indicating a display or demonstration of power, or een vertoon van opluchting, signaling a visible expression of relief. Because of its literary tone, vertoon is more likely to be found in examined texts, historical writing, or discussions of rhetoric than in everyday conversation.

Etymology and status: Vertoon traces to the Dutch prefix ver- added to toon (in the sense of display or appearance). It is attested in older and some literary texts, but its use has diminished in ordinary speech. The word sits among related forms such as tonen (to show), vertonen (to exhibit), and the more common noun toon, which covers related notions of display or appearance.

See also: tonen, vertonen, toon, weergave, manifestatie.