View source for -port- (etymology)

Several English words include the element '''-port-''', even discounting such elements as '''portion''', which comes from ''ptÅ ratiÅne'', 'in the ratio'. Most come from originals with the four letters '''-port-''' as a unit.. These can confuse non-native learners at times, and their history may be interesting to native speakers; so some notes are given here. They come in essence from three [[Latin]] [[etymological root|root]]s, two linked. 
*''PortÄre'' means 'to carry, bring' (cf French ''porter''), and is the most productive root. (In [[Latin]], the irregular [[verb]] ''fero'', ''ferre'', ''tuli'', ''latum'' was more often used for this meaning, and there are [[cognate]]s in many languages: [[Greek]] Ï†ÎÏÏ‰ (also an irregular verb - ''phero'', ''â€™Î¿Î¯ÏƒÏ‰'', ''â€™Î·Î½ÎµÎ³ÎºÎ±''), root of the name Christopher, derived from the legend of a man who carried the Christ-child on his shoulder - Christo-phoros, 'Christ-bearing'); and [[Sanskrit]] ''vhri''.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"

!word !! derivation ([[Latin]] unless stated) !! meaning !! meaning explained !! Notes
|- 
|airport || ''portus'' || safe landing area for aircraft || by extension from '''port (''n. ''1) ||
|-
| carport ||
|-
| colporteur || ''porter'' (French) || itinerant vendor of papers or books (esp. Bibles) || ''col'' = 'neck' ||
|-
| comport ([[verb|vb]] || ''portÄre'' || to bear oneself  || ''cum'', 'with' is often [[reflexive]] || The [[noun]] is obsolete || 
|-
| comportment ([[noun|n]] || ''portÄre'' || behaviour, bearing || || ||
|-
| deport (''[[verb|vb]]'' (1) || ''portÄre'' || to send [a person] abroad; to banish || ''de-'' as 'off' or 'away' || 
|-
| deportment || ''portÄre'' || behavious, bearing || || Mostly with regard to physical stance
|-
| deport (''[[verb|vb]]'' (2) || ''portÄre'' || to bear oneself, behave || || Obsolete. '''Comport''' is better as a [[verb]] ||
|-
| disport ||  ''portÄre'' || 
|- 
| export || ''portÄre'' || [to] trade abroad || || See [[Import (meaning)]].
|-
| fireport || ''porta'' || opening to shoot through || ||
|-
| gunport || ''porta'' || Opening to shoot through || ||
|-
| import || ''portÄre'' || inward trade || || See [[Import (meaning)]].
|-
| port (''[[noun|n.]] 1 || ''portus'' || || ||
|-
| port ([[noun|n.]] 2) || ''portis'' || an opening || || ||
|-
| port (''[[adjective|adj.]]'') || ''portus'' OR ''porta'' || haven, harbour || || See [[port - starboard]] ||
|-
| port (''[[verb|vb.]]'') || ''portÄre'' || to carry (obs.) || || Used for military drill - to '''port armns''' is to hold rifle slantwise in front of body ||
|-
| portable || ''portÄre'' || || || ||
|-
| porthole || ''portus'' || ship's 'window', usually circular || || 
|-
| purport || 
|-
| rapport || ''portÄre'' ||
|-
| report || ''portÄre'' || 
|-
| sport || 
|-
| support || 
|-
|}

*''Porta'' means a 'door, gate[way]', French ''la porte''. This gives us such simple words as 'portal' and 'portico' (and its more 'native' form 'porch'), 'portal'. It shares its derivation ('''''por''''') with the following:
*''portus'', a 'harbour, haven or port', is derived from an older root ''por'' or ''par'', meaning 'to pierce': the basic meaning of each is 'entry'.


{{wip}}

[[category:
[[category:clarification of meanings]]
[[category:Etymological curiosities]]