purport
[ verb per-pawrt, -pohrt, pur-pawrt, -pohrt; noun pur-pawrt, -pohrt ]
/ verb pərˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt, ˈpɜr pɔrt, -poʊrt; noun ˈpɜr pɔrt, -poʊrt /
verb (used with object)
to present, especially deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely: a document purporting to be official.
to convey to the mind as the meaning or thing intended; express or imply.
noun
the meaning, import, or sense: the main purport of your letter.
purpose; intention; object: the main purport of their visit to France.
Origin of purport
1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English
purporten < Anglo-French
purporter to convey, equivalent to
pur-
pro-1 +
porter to carry (< Latin
portāre); (noun) late Middle English < Anglo-French, derivative of the v.
SYNONYMS FOR purport
OTHER WORDS FROM purport
pur·port·less, adjectiveWords nearby purport
Example sentences from the Web for purport
British Dictionary definitions for purport
purport
verb (pɜːˈpɔːt) (tr)
to claim (to be a certain thing, etc) by manner or appearance, esp falsely
(esp of speech or writing) to signify or imply
noun (ˈpɜːpɔːt)
meaning; significance
purpose; object; intention
Word Origin for purport
C15: from Anglo-French: contents, from Old French
porporter to convey, from
por- forth +
porter to carry, from Latin
portāre