represents
/ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnts/
verb
Origin
Latin
repraesentare — to make present, to exhibit, to bring to view
Overview
Meaning Now
- To stand for or correspond to something else as a substitute, symbol, or proxy.
- To describe or depict someone or something in a particular way.
- To be a typical example, embodiment, or instance of a class or group.
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
representen
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term stems from the Latin 'repraesentare', which combined 're-' (an intensive prefix or 'again') with 'praesentare' (to present). Historically, it moved from the physical sense of 'making something present' or 'displaying' into the abstract realm of political or symbolic substitution during the medieval period.
Evolution
- Latin
repraesentare
“to make present; to bring before the mind”
- Old French
représenter
“to show, to exhibit, to stand for”
- Middle English
representen
“to portray; to act as a substitute”
- Modern English
represents
“standard third-person singular present”
Connections
Word parts
re-
prefix
back or again; intensive force
present
root
to show or offer
-s
ending
third-person singular marker
Related across languages
French
représenter
to represent
Spanish
representar
to represent
Explore next
Related to represents
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.