purport

WOTD – 10 July 2009    

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman, from purporter (“contain”), from Old French pur-, from Latin pro (“forth”) + Old French porter (“carry”), from Latin portō (“carry”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)t
• (verb, UK) IPA: /pəˈpɔːt/, X-SAMPA: /p@"pO:t/
• (verb, US) IPA: /pɚˈpɔɹt/, X-SAMPA: /p@`"pOr\t/
• (noun, UK) IPA: /ˈpɜːpɔːt/, /ˈpɜːpət/, X-SAMPA: /"p3:pO:t/, /"p3:p@t/
• (noun, US) IPA: /ˈpɚpɔɹt/, X-SAMPA: /"p@`pOr\t/

Verb

purport (third-person singular simple present purports, present participle purporting, simple past and past participle purported)

1. To convey, imply, or profess outwardly, often falsely.

   He purports himself to be an international man of affairs.

2. To intend.

   He purported to become an international man of affairs.

Translations

to convey

• Dutch: beweren (nl),
• Finnish: esiintyä (fi), esittää (fi)
• French: prétendre (fr)

• Georgian: გამოსახვა (ka) (gamosaxva), გამოხატვა (ka) (gamoxatva)
• Portuguese: pretender (pt), dizer (pt), supor (pt)
• Russian: изображать, притворяться

to intend

• Dutch: van plan zijn (nl)
• Finnish: aikoa (fi)
• French: avoir l'intention (fr)

• Georgian: ჩაფიქრება (ka) (č’ap’ik’reba)
• Russian: намереваться

Noun

purport (plural purports)

1. import, intention or purpose
   • 1748, David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

     My practice, you say, refutes my doubts. But you mistake the purport of my question.

   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 4, chapter I, Aristocracies

     Sorrowful, phantasmal as this same Double Aristocracy of Teachers and Governors now looks, it is worth all men’s while to know that the purport of it is, and remains, noble and most real.

Translations

import

• Armenian: իմաստ (hy) (imast)
• Dutch: doel (nl) n, intentie (nl) f, gewicht (nl) n
• Finnish: tarkoitus (fi)
• Hindi: मुराद (hi) (Murāda) f

• Portuguese: propósito (pt) m
• Russian: намерение n
• Scottish Gaelic: brìgh (gd) f

Anagrams

• prorupt