Difference between revisions of "-port- (etymology)"

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Several English words include the element '''-port-''', even when  ignore those that contain such elements as '''portion''', which comes from ''ptō tatiōne'', 'in the ratio'. Most come from originals with the four letters '''-port-'''. 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. ''Portāre'' means 'to carry, bring' (cf French ''porter''), and is the most productive root. ''Porta'' means a 'door, gate[way]', and, like ''portus'', a 'harbour, haven or port', is derived from an older root ''por'', meaning 'to pierce': the basic meaning of each is 'entry'.
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Several English words include the element '''-port-''', even discounting such elements as '''portion''', which comes from ''proportione'', in itself probably formed from ''prō ratiōne'', 'in the ratio'; and '''port'''ray, with the related [[noun]] '''por'''trait, which come from French ''por'' (modern ''pour''), [[Latin]] ''pro'', and ''traire'', 'to draw'. 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.  
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*''Portāre'' 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]] φέρω, ''phero'' (also an irregular verb , ''φέρω'', ''ἐνήνοχᾰ'', ''ἐνήνεγμαι''), root of the name Christo'''pher''', derived from the legend of a man who carried the Christ-child on his shoulder - Christo-phoros, 'Christ-bearing'); and [[Sanskrit]] ''vhri''.
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*''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:
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*''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', 'gap' (in a wall, or a coast). The word influenced the name of a Roman god '''''Portunus''''' (earlier ''Portumnes'', ''Portunes'', the god of locks and keys, i.e. of doors - ''porta''s), to whom one could pray. In his later form, he might give fortunate or unfortunate weather to sailors approaching harbour.
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{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
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!word !! derivation ([[Latin]] unless stated) !! meaning !! meaning explained !! Notes
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|-
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|airport || ''portus'' || safe landing area for aircraft || by extension from '''port (''n. ''1) ||
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|-
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| carport || ''portus'' || shelter for a car, opening into a house || 1) 'opening (in house)'; <br>2) 'haven' for a car || earliest recorded 1939
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|-
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| colporteur || ''porter'' (French) || itinerant vendor of papers or books (esp. Bibles) || ''col'' = 'neck' ||
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|-
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| comport ([[verb|vb]]) || ''portāre'' || to bear oneself  || ''cum'', 'with' is often [[reflexive]] || The [[noun]] is obsolete 
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|-
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| comportment ([[noun|n]]) || ''portāre'' || behaviour, bearing || || obsolete; "rare" - ''[[OED]]''. '''Deportment''' is better
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|-
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| deport (''[[verb|vb]]'' (1)) || ''portāre'' || to send [a person] abroad; to banish || ''de-'' as 'off' or 'away' || Associated [[noun|n.]] '''deportation'''
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|-
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| deport (''[[verb|vb]]'' (2)) || ''portāre'' || to bear oneself, behave || ''de-'' as 'formally', 'completely', 'thoroughly' || Obs. '''Comport''' now a better [[verb]] <br> assoc. [[noun|n.]] '''deportment'''
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|-
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| deportment || ''portāre'' || behaviour, bearing || || Mostly with regard to physical stance
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|-
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| desport || ''portāre'' || ''older form of '''''disport''' || || the spelling during 14th & 15th centuries |
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|-
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| disport ||  ''portāre'' || to cease working, relax,<br>to amuse or divert oneself || [[Latin|Lat.]] ''dis-'' 'away from', 'different from'|| Obsolete.  Modern [[aphetic]] '''sport'''<br>'to unburden oneself', 'lay down one's burden' 
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|-
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| entry port || ''porta'' || opening to a ship for entry etc. || || On upper deck, a 'gate' in the railing; <br>to lower decks, a 'door' in ship's side
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|-
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| export (''[[verb|vb.]]'' & ''[[noun|n.]]'') || ''portāre'' || [to] trade abroad || ''ex-'' 'from' || See [[Import (meaning)]].
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|-
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| gunport || ''porta'' || Opening to shoot through || a 'porthole' for a gun  || historical. Since 2oth cent., guns have been mounted in turrets.
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|-
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| heliport || ''portus'' || small <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''airport'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> for '''heli'''copters || by extension from '''port (''n. ''1) ||
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|-
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| import (''[[verb|vb.]]'' & ''[[noun|n.]]'') || ''portāre'' || inward trade || ''im-'' (''in-'') as 'inwards' || See [[Import (meaning)]].
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|-
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| important || ''portāre'', via [[Import (meaning)]] || 'having weight', <br> 'bearing upon' || ''im-'' as 'on' || See [[Import (meaning)]].
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|-
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| importune || ''portus'', via ''Portunus'' || a) 'to ask or beg in an insistent manner'; <BR>b) 'to pester'; <br>c) 'to solicit as a prostitute' || a) may be how Romans "[[those in peril on the deep|in peril on the deep]]" cried to their god, giving rise to b);<Br>c) is a criminal offence in the [[UK]] || |
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|-
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| importunate || ''portus'', via ''Portunus'' || 'in an insistent manner' || as above || The [[noun|n.]] is '''importunity'''.
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|-
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| importuning || ''portus'', via ''Portunus'' || solicitation, as a prostitute || || a criminal offence in the [[UK]]
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|-
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| opportune || ''ob-'' + ''portus'', via ''Portunus'' ||  appropriate, lucky; 'well-timed' || ''ob-'' 'in the direction of'; ''Portunus'', Roman god of ports || So, fortunate and fitting
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|-
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| opportunity || ''portus'', via ''Portunus'' || a favourable or lucky occasion to do something || The god ''Portunus'' gives good luck ||
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|-
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| port (''[[noun|n.]] 1'') || ''portus'' || a harbour or haven; '''port''' || || Element in some place names,e.g. <br>'''Port'''smouth, entry to [natural] harbour
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|-
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| port (''[[noun|n.]] 2'') || ''portus'' || an opening || ||a) Used in ships for openings in sides.<br>Cf '''gunport''', '''entry port''', etc <br>openings in computers, etc, to receive connections
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|-
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| port (''[[noun|n.]] 3'') || ''Porto'' (Portuguese) || Type of (fortified) wine || Traded from the town called Oporto in English || The town is '''Porto''' in its own language
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|-
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| port (''[[adjective|adj.]]'') || ''portus'' OR ''porta'' || 'left-hand'; ''from'' haven, harbour || || See [[port - starboard]]
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|-
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| port (''[[verb|vb.]] 1'') || ''portāre'' || to carry (obs.) || || Used for military drill - to '''port arms''' is to hold rifle diagonally in front of body
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|-
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| port (''[[verb|vb.]] 2'') || ''portāre'' || to transfer software from one computer to another || || |
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|-
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| portable || ''portāre'' || [small enough to be able to be carried easily || || Also (of software) transferable between one computer and another (cf '''port''' ''[[verb|vb.]] 2'') |
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|-
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| portage || ''portāre'' via ''porter'' (French) || the carrying of a canoe etc across land<br>e.g. between rivers or past obstacles in the water || || term from European exploration of N. America
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|-
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|portcullis || ''porta'', <br>via ''porte'' (French) || vertically sliding 'gate' <br>usually an iron grill || ||  ''porta'' in grooves (''coulisses'', from French [[verb|vb.]] ''couler'' 'to flow'.
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|-
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| porter || 1) ''portare'' <br>2) ''porta'' || 1) one who '''carries''' things for hire;<br>2) one who guards a '''door''', 'door-keeper' ||  || '''Porters''' at [[Oxbridge]] [[College]]s are doorkeepers (prestigious), as opposed to <br>'''porters''' at railway stations, who are little respected
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|-
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| porter (2) || indirectly ''portāre'' ||a dark kind of beer || named because it was a favourite refreshment among street porters - '''porters' ale''' || |
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|-
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| porthole || ''portus'' || ship's 'window', usually circular || ||
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|-
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| portmanteau || ''portāre'' via French ''porter'' || type of suitcase || for carrying a ''manteau'' (French, = mantle, cloak or coat || See also [[portmanteau word]] for a [[figurative|fig.]] use.
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|-
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| purport (''[[noun|n.]]'') || ''portāre'' || the meaning || || orig. [[Latin|Lat.]] ''proportāre''', classically ''praeportāre'':<br> 'to carry in front'
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|-
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| purport ''[[verb|vb.]]'' || ''portāre'' || to seem to mean;<br>to claim or pretend to be || || The verb has a stronger [[connotation]] of doubt than the noun
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|-
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| rapport (''[[noun|n.]]'') || ''rapporter'' (French [[verb|vb.]] || a good relationship; mutual understanding or sympathy || || See also [[rapport (pronunciation)]]
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|-
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| rapport (''[[verb|vb.]])'' || ''portāre'' || ['to report'] || || Obsolete spelling of '''report'''
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|-
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| rapporteur || ''portāre'', via French ''rapporter'', '''rapport''' || person who gives an official account of an official committee or working party || May be a form of Minutes Secretary, or, more prestigiously, the representative of some high body. e.g. the UN
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|-
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| report || ''portāre'' || to give an account of || 'to bring back ([[Latin|Lat.]] ''re-'') ||
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|-
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| reporter || ''portāre'' || one who brings back an account || specifically, one employed to communicate news ||
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|-
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| seaport || ''portus'' || a port (''n. 1''); <br>a harbour || || used since 1600 in Scotland, later further south. More necessary since '''airport'''
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|-
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| sport || ''portāre'' || organised form of competitive exercise || relaxation; recreation; game<br>as [[noun]] and [[verb]] || [[aphetic]] for '''disport''' |
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|-
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| support || ''portāre' || to hold up; || ''sub'' 'under' + ''portāre'' = 'to bear up (carry) from below || Both [[literal|lit.]] & [[figurative|fig.]] |
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|-
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| teleport || ''portāre'' || 'to beam matter across space' || [[Greek]]  ''tele-'' (τηλε-) '[from] afar' || Term invented in [[Science Fiction]]
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|-
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| transport  || ''portāre'' || 1) 'to carry' <BR>See also [[transport (meaning)]] || ''trans-'' 'across' || See a [[transport (pronunciation)|note on the pronunciation]]
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|}
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There is a Greek verb ''phero'' (φέρω), meaning: to bear, carry, convey, suffer, endure, produce, i.e., virtually the same meanings as ''fero''. Like ''fero'', it is a defective verb with forms only for the present and imperfect - ''oiso'' (’οίσω) is used for the future, and ''enenka'' (’ηνεγκα) for the aorist. It regularly produces adjectives with the -''phoros'' (-φόρος) suffix, such as ''nosephoros'' (νοσηφόρος, disease-bringing), ''thanatophoros'' (θανατοφόρος) or ''thanatephoros'' (θανατηφόρος, death-bringing) and ''hupnophoros'' (‘υπνοφόρος, sleep-bringing). So although ''Christophoros'' doesn't appear in Liddell and Scott, it is well-formed.
 
  
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[[category:
 
 
[[category:clarification of meanings]]
 
[[category:clarification of meanings]]
 
[[category:Etymological curiosities]]
 
[[category:Etymological curiosities]]
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[[Category:word formation]]
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[[Category:etymology]]

Latest revision as of 14:25, 24 July 2017

Several English words include the element -port-, even discounting such elements as portion, which comes from proportione, in itself probably formed from prō ratiōne, 'in the ratio'; and portray, with the related noun portrait, which come from French por (modern pour), Latin pro, and traire, 'to draw'. 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 roots, two linked.

  • Portāre 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 cognates in many languages: Greek φέρω, phero (also an irregular verb , φέρω, ἐνήνοχᾰ, ἐνήνεγμαι), 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.
  • 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', 'gap' (in a wall, or a coast). The word influenced the name of a Roman god Portunus (earlier Portumnes, Portunes, the god of locks and keys, i.e. of doors - portas), to whom one could pray. In his later form, he might give fortunate or unfortunate weather to sailors approaching harbour.


word derivation (Latin unless stated) meaning meaning explained Notes
airport portus safe landing area for aircraft by extension from port (n. 1)
carport portus shelter for a car, opening into a house 1) 'opening (in house)';
2) 'haven' for a car 		earliest recorded 1939
colporteur porter (French) itinerant vendor of papers or books (esp. Bibles) col = 'neck'
comport (vb) portāre to bear oneself cum, 'with' is often reflexive The noun is obsolete
comportment (n) portāre behaviour, bearing obsolete; "rare" - OED. Deportment is better
deport (vb (1)) portāre to send [a person] abroad; to banish de- as 'off' or 'away' Associated n. deportation
deport (vb (2)) portāre to bear oneself, behave de- as 'formally', 'completely', 'thoroughly' Obs. Comport now a better verb
assoc. n. deportment
deportment portāre behaviour, bearing Mostly with regard to physical stance
desport portāre older form of disport
disport portāre to cease working, relax,
to amuse or divert oneself 		Lat. dis- 'away from', 'different from' Obsolete. Modern aphetic sport
'to unburden oneself', 'lay down one's burden'
entry port porta opening to a ship for entry etc. On upper deck, a 'gate' in the railing;
to lower decks, a 'door' in ship's side
export (vb. & n.) portāre [to] trade abroad ex- 'from' See Import (meaning).
gunport porta Opening to shoot through a 'porthole' for a gun historical. Since 2oth cent., guns have been mounted in turrets.
heliport portus small 'airport' for helicopters by extension from port (n. 1)
import (vb. & n.) portāre inward trade im- (in-) as 'inwards' See Import (meaning).
important portāre, via Import (meaning) 'having weight',
'bearing upon' 		im- as 'on' See Import (meaning).
importune portus, via Portunus a) 'to ask or beg in an insistent manner';
b) 'to pester';
c) 'to solicit as a prostitute' 		a) may be how Romans "in peril on the deep" cried to their god, giving rise to b);
c) is a criminal offence in the UK
importunate portus, via Portunus 'in an insistent manner' as above The n. is importunity.
importuning portus, via Portunus solicitation, as a prostitute a criminal offence in the UK
opportune ob- + portus, via Portunus appropriate, lucky; 'well-timed' ob- 'in the direction of'; Portunus, Roman god of ports So, fortunate and fitting
opportunity portus, via Portunus a favourable or lucky occasion to do something The god Portunus gives good luck
port (n. 1) portus a harbour or haven; port Element in some place names,e.g.
Portsmouth, entry to [natural] harbour
port (n. 2) portus an opening a) Used in ships for openings in sides.
Cf gunport, entry port, etc
openings in computers, etc, to receive connections
port (n. 3) Porto (Portuguese) Type of (fortified) wine Traded from the town called Oporto in English The town is Porto in its own language
port (adj.) portus OR porta 'left-hand'; from haven, harbour See port - starboard
port (vb. 1) portāre to carry (obs.) Used for military drill - to port arms is to hold rifle diagonally in front of body
port (vb. 2) portāre to transfer software from one computer to another
portable portāre [small enough to be able to be carried easily Also (of software) transferable between one computer and another (cf port vb. 2) |
portage portāre via porter (French) the carrying of a canoe etc across land
e.g. between rivers or past obstacles in the water 		term from European exploration of N. America
portcullis porta,
via porte (French) 		vertically sliding 'gate'
usually an iron grill 		porta in grooves (coulisses, from French vb. couler 'to flow'.
porter 1) portare
2) porta 		1) one who carries things for hire;
2) one who guards a door, 'door-keeper' 		Porters at Oxbridge Colleges are doorkeepers (prestigious), as opposed to
porters at railway stations, who are little respected
porter (2) indirectly portāre a dark kind of beer named because it was a favourite refreshment among street porters - porters' ale
porthole portus ship's 'window', usually circular
portmanteau portāre via French porter type of suitcase for carrying a manteau (French, = mantle, cloak or coat See also portmanteau word for a fig. use.
purport (n.) portāre the meaning orig. Lat. proportāre', classically praeportāre:
'to carry in front'
purport vb. portāre to seem to mean;
to claim or pretend to be 		The verb has a stronger connotation of doubt than the noun
rapport (n.) rapporter (French vb. a good relationship; mutual understanding or sympathy See also rapport (pronunciation)
rapport (vb.) portāre ['to report'] Obsolete spelling of report
rapporteur portāre, via French rapporter, rapport person who gives an official account of an official committee or working party May be a form of Minutes Secretary, or, more prestigiously, the representative of some high body. e.g. the UN
report portāre to give an account of 'to bring back (Lat. re-)
reporter portāre one who brings back an account specifically, one employed to communicate news
seaport portus a port (n. 1);
a harbour 		used since 1600 in Scotland, later further south. More necessary since airport
sport portāre organised form of competitive exercise relaxation; recreation; game
as noun and verb 		aphetic for disport |
support portāre' to hold up; sub 'under' + portāre = 'to bear up (carry) from below Both lit. & fig. |
teleport portāre 'to beam matter across space' Greek tele- (τηλε-) '[from] afar' Term invented in Science Fiction
transport portāre 1) 'to carry'
See also transport (meaning) 		trans- 'across' See a note on the pronunciation
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