▪ I. purport, n.
(ˈpɜːpɔət)
Also 5 purpurt. (See also proport n.2)
[a. AF. = OF. por-, purport (13th c. in Godef.) produce, contents, f. purporter: see next. Formerly stressed purˈport.]
1. That which is conveyed or expressed, esp. by a formal document; bearing, tenor, import, effect; meaning, substance, sense.
| [1278 Rolls of Parlt. I. 10/1 Solum le purport de lur chartres.] 1455 Ibid. V. 306/2 Aftir the purportez and tenours of the same. 1466 in Archæologia (1887) L. i. 51 Our seyde graunt and lettres patentes accordyng to theffecte tenour and purport therof be and stond. 1495 Stat. 11 Hen. VII, c. 54 §2 Lettres patentes..[shall be] effectuell in the lawe aftir the tenures and purpurtis of the same. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ix. 26 High over his head There written was the purport of his sin. 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. i. 82 And with a looke so pitious in purport, As if he had been loosed out of hell. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. ii. ii. 578 To tell thee then the purport of my Thoughts. 1791 Mrs. Radclyffe Rom. Forest viii, She resolved to acquaint Madame La Motte with the purport of the late conversation. 1881 Jowett Thucyd. i. xxii, I endeavoured..to give the general purport of what was actually said. |
† b. Outward bearing. Obs. rare—1.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 52 For shee her sexe under that straunge purport Did use to hide. |
2. That which is intended to be done or effected by something; meaning, object, purpose, design, intention. Now rare.
| 1654 Cromwell Sp. 4 Sept. (in Carlyle), What was the purport of it but to make the Tenant as liberal a fortune as the Landlord? 1751 Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 133 Writings of that sort,..framed to serve particular views, fulfill the purport of their creation, and then perish. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §127 The whole purport of the present remaining season, was nothing more than cutting the rock to a shape..for the reception of any structure whatever. 1863 M. Howitt F. Bremer's Greece II. xiv. 95 The purport of our steamer's visit to these shores is to promote exchange of commodities and commerce. |
▪ II. purport, v.
(pɜːˈpɔət, ˈpɜːpət)
Also 6 pour-.
[a. AF. = OF. pur-, porporter (c 1160 in Godef.), later pourporter to embody, extend:—late pop. L. *prōportāre to carry or bear forth; cf. med.L. prōportāre (præ-, por-) to extend (12th c. in Du Cange). OF. had also the variant proporter, whence the Sc. form proport, q.v.]
1. trans. To have as its purport, bearing, or tenor; to convey to the mind; to bear as its meaning; to express, set forth, state; to mean, imply.
| [1300 Lib. Custum. I. 124, 28 Ed. I, Solom ceo qe lour chartre roiale le purporte.] |
| 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. xliv. 84 Like as our letters sent from Lyones..did purport. 1533 More Debell. Salem Wks. 955/1 This coniunccion, if, purporteth alway a doute. ? 1561 T. Preston Cambyses in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 173 Your grace's message came to me, Your will purporting forth. 1676 Ancaster MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1907) 458 [A silver cup] purporting a woman carrying a bucket on her head. 1693 Mem. Cnt. Teckely iii. 2 The Declaration also purported, That from the 15th of February, those Malecontents..should find the Emperor's Commissioners at Presbourg. 1780 D. Brodhead in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) III. 120, I..inclose copies of letters..purporting some of the above facts. 1858 Masson Milton (1859) I. 5 It purports that some one from Oxfordshire..applied to the College of Arms to have his title recognised. |
b. Followed by inf. (of a picture, statue, document, book, or the like; rarely of a person): To profess or claim by its tenor. (Said without pronouncing as to the truth or validity of the claim.)
| 1790 Paley Horæ Paul. i. 10 This epistle purports to be written after St. Paul had been at Corinth. 1808 Colebrooke Vedas in Asiat. Res. VIII. 377 A transcript of what purported to be a complete copy of the Védas. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 232 The Declaration which purported to give them entire freedom of conscience. 1879 Tourgee Fool's Err. xxxiii. 220 A letter purporting to have been written by you. 1884 J. Quincy Figures of Past 359 Jack Downing..who purported to accompany the presidential party and to chronicle its doings. |
2. To mean, intend, purpose. rare.
| 1803 Southey Let. to Coleridge 3 Aug., After all, this is really nearer the actual design of what I purport by a bibliotheca than yours would be. 1814 ― Roderick x. 348 That even in the extremity of guilt No guilt he purported. 1817 Hazlitt Char. Shaks. (1838) 107 Where he alters the letters which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are taking with them..purporting his death. 1872 Robinson Bridge of Glass II. ii. iv. 47 What Matthew purports doing, I don't know. |
Hence purported ppl. a., professed, alleged.
| 1894 F. B. Shawe in Daily News 19 June 6/2 Your readers will now be able to form an opinion as to the authenticity of this purported discovery. |