representative English · revision 4437

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1387–8|origins=la repraesentare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌrep.rɪˈzen.tə.tɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|representatif]],^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) [[bor|frm|représentatif]] (early 14th century),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) or directly [[der|la-med|repraesentātīvus]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from repraesentātus, past participle of Latin repraesentāre “to show, exhibit, display”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[represent]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Serving to represent, portray or symbolize: 1387–8 in the OED, late Middle English in SOED,^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) the 1580s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Standing for others, acting as a substitute or agent, is from about 1624, and in the political sense, holding the place of and acting for a larger body of people in a legislature, from 1628.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The noun, a member of such a body, as of the House of Commons or the American House of Representatives, is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) and an example or type by the 1640s.^(Etymonline) Government founded on the representation of the people is from the 1640s.^(Etymonline) Typical of a class is from 1788.^(OED 1989) The adverb representatively is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1387–8 – serving to represent.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1624 – standing for others.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1628 – political representation.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – noun, a member of a legislature.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – noun, an example or type.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1788 – typical of a class.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person chosen to act or speak for others; a [[delegate]] or agent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A member of a [[legislature]], especially of the lower house of the United States Congress or a state legislature.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who travels to sell a company's goods; a sales representative.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A typical example of a class.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Typical of a class or group: ''a representative sample''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or based on government by elected representatives.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Serving to represent or portray something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[representatively]]

+ * [[representativeness]]

+ * [[representativity]]

+ * [[nonrepresentative]]

+ * [[overrepresentative]]

+ * [[unrepresentative]]

+ * [[sales representative]]

+ * [[House of Representatives]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[represent]]

+ * [[representation]]

+ * [[present]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}