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purport {verb} = [with infinitive] Appear to be or do something, especially falsely:

Etymonline's entry for the verb just redirects to that for the noun:

purport (n.) ... back-formation from purporter "to contain, convey, carry,"
from pur- (from Latin pro- "forth;" see pur-)

  • Old French porter "to carry," from Latin portare "to carry" (see port (n.1)).

How did pro- + portare combine to connote falsity? I heed the Etymological Fallacy. What are some right ways of interpreting this etymology, to make it feel reasonable and intuitive?What are some right ways of interpreting this etymology, to make it feel reasonable and intuitive?

purport {verb} = [with infinitive] Appear to be or do something, especially falsely:

Etymonline's entry for the verb just redirects to that for the noun:

purport (n.) ... back-formation from purporter "to contain, convey, carry,"
from pur- (from Latin pro- "forth;" see pur-)

  • Old French porter "to carry," from Latin portare "to carry" (see port (n.1)).

How did pro- + portare combine to connote falsity? I heed the Etymological Fallacy. What are some right ways of interpreting this etymology, to make it feel reasonable and intuitive?

purport {verb} = [with infinitive] Appear to be or do something, especially falsely:

Etymonline's entry for the verb just redirects to that for the noun:

purport (n.) ... back-formation from purporter "to contain, convey, carry,"
from pur- (from Latin pro- "forth;" see pur-)

  • Old French porter "to carry," from Latin portare "to carry" (see port (n.1)).

How did pro- + portare combine to connote falsity? I heed the Etymological Fallacy. What are some right ways of interpreting this etymology, to make it feel reasonable and intuitive?

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user50720
user50720

How did 'purport' evolve to meanconnote falsity?

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user50720
user50720

How did 'purport' evolve to mean falsity?

purport {verb} = [with infinitive] Appear to be or do something, especially falsely:

Etymonline's entry for the verb just redirects to that for the noun:

purport (n.) ... back-formation from purporter "to contain, convey, carry,"
from pur- (from Latin pro- "forth;" see pur-)

  • Old French porter "to carry," from Latin portare "to carry" (see port (n.1)).

How did pro- + portare combine to connote falsity? I heed the Etymological Fallacy. What are some right ways of interpreting this etymology, to make it feel reasonable and intuitive?