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pur·port

(pər-pôrt)

tr.v. pur·port·ed, pur·port·ing, pur·ports

To have or present the often false appearance of being or intending; claim or profess: a novel that purports to be a sailor's memoir; an author who purports to have witnessed the events.

n. (pûrpôrt′)

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

2. Intention; purpose: The purport of the visit was to discuss trade relations.

[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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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