Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of purport - 3 dictionary results

pur⋅port

  [v. per-pawrt, -pohrt, pur-pawrt, -pohrt; n. pur-pawrt, -pohrt]
Use purport in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to present, esp. deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely: a document purporting to be official.
2. to convey to the mind as the meaning or thing intended; express or imply.
–noun
3. the meaning, import, or sense: the main purport of your letter.
4. purpose; intention; object: the main purport of their visit to France.
Origin:
1375–1425; (v.) late ME purporten < AF purporter to convey, equiv. to pur- pro- 1 + porter to carry (< L portāre); (n.) late ME < AF, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
pur⋅port⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
2. mean, intend, signify. 3. implication, drift, trend, gist. See meaning.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To purport
pur·port   (pər-pôrt', -pōrt')   
tr.v.   pur·port·ed, pur·port·ing, pur·ports

  1. To have or present the often false appearance of being or intending; profess: selfish behavior that purports to be altruistic.

  2. To have the intention of doing; purpose.

n.   (pûr'pôrt', -pōrt')

  1. Meaning presented, intended, or implied; import. See Synonyms at substance.

  2. Intention; purpose.


[Middle English purporten, to set forth, from Anglo-Norman purporter : pur-, forth (from Latin prō-; see pro-1) + porter, to carry (from Latin portāre; see per-2 in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

purport  (n.)
1422, from Anglo-Fr. purport (1278), from purporter "to contain," from pur- (from L. pro- "forth") + O.Fr. porter "to carry," from L. portare "to carry" (see port (1)). The verb is attested from 1528. Purportedly "allegedly" first recorded 1949.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see purport on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way