Etymologically

supporto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word supporto

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Caesar
Ultimate origin
Latin (portō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin porto
Latin transporto
Latin supporto
Latin apporto

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊpˈpɔr.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [supˈpɔr.to][1]

Forms

supportō (present infinitive supportāre, perfect active supportāvī, supine supportātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sub- + portō (“to carry”).[2][3] It is also spelled subportō.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Caesar, in the Gallic War, uses it of bringing up grain supplies from the Sequani.[4][3] Köbler dates Caesar c. 50 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to carry or bring up supplies to a centre or to the place of work, frequent in Caesar of grain and provisions, and of materials for siege works.[2][4][6] Lewis & Short note it is perhaps not in Cicero.[4]

Its descendants include French supporter, Italian sopportare and Spanish soportar “to bear, endure”.[1] English support is recorded in the late 14th century through Old French suporter, in the senses to hold up and to endure.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of bringing up supplies.[4][5]
  • late 14th century – English support is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To carry, bring or convey to a place; to transport supplies.[2][1]

Word family

  • supportatorium

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Supporto.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/supporto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·