Word Study
represent
CIDE DICTIONARY
represent, v. t. [F. représenter, L. repraesentare, repraesentatum; pref. re- re- + preesentare to place before, present. See Present, v. t. ].
- To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify. [1913 Webster]"Before him burn
Seven lamps, as in a zodiac representing
The heavenly fires." [1913 Webster] - To portray by pictoral or plastic art; to delineate; as, to represent a landscape in a picture, a horse in bronze, and the like. [1913 Webster]
- To portray by mimicry or action of any kind; to act the part or character of; to personate; as, to represent Hamlet. [1913 Webster]
- To stand in the place of; to supply the place, perform the duties, exercise the rights, or receive the share, of; to speak and act with authority in behalf of; to act the part of (another); as, an heir represents his ancestor; an attorney represents his client in court; a member of Congress represents his district in Congress. [1913 Webster]
- To exhibit to another mind in language; to show; to give one's own impressions and judgement of; to bring before the mind; to set forth; sometimes, to give an account of; to describe. [1913 Webster]"He represented Rizzio's credit with the queen to be the chief and only obstacle to his success in that demand." [1913 Webster]"This bank is thought the greatest load on the Genoese, and the managers of it have been represented as a second kind of senate." [1913 Webster]
- To serve as a sign or symbol of; as, mathematical symbols represent quantities or relations; words represent ideas or things. [1913 Webster]
- To bring a sensation of into the mind or sensorium; to cause to be known, felt, or apprehended; to present. [1913 Webster]"Among these. Fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things
Which he five watchful senses represent,
She forms imaginations, aery shapes." [1913 Webster] - To form or image again in consciousness, as an object of cognition or apprehension (something which was originally apprehended by direct presentation). See Presentative, 3. [1913 Webster]"The general capability of knowledge necessarily requires that, besides the power of evoking out of unconsciousness one portion of our retained knowledge in preference to another, we posses the faculty of representing in consciousness what is thus evoked . . . This representative Faculty is Imagination or Phantasy." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
represent, v.tr.
1 stand for or correspond to (the comment does not represent all our views).
2 (often in passive) be a specimen or example of; exemplify (all types of people were represented in the audience).
3 act as an embodiment of; symbolize (the sovereign represents the majesty of the State; numbers are represented by letters).
4 call up in the mind by description or portrayal or imagination; place a likeness of before the mind or senses.
5 serve or be meant as a likeness of.
6 a state by way of expostulation or persuasion (represented the rashness of it). b (foll. by to) try to bring (the facts influencing conduct) home to (represented the risks to his client).
7 (often foll. by as, to be) describe or depict as; declare or make out (represented them as martyrs; not what you represent it to be).
8 (foll. by that + clause) allege.
9 show, or play the part of, on stage.
10 fill the place of; be a substitute or deputy for; be entitled to act or speak for (the Queen was represented by the Princess of Wales).
11 be elected as a member of Parliament, a legislature, etc. by (represents a rural constituency).
1 stand for or correspond to (the comment does not represent all our views).
2 (often in passive) be a specimen or example of; exemplify (all types of people were represented in the audience).
3 act as an embodiment of; symbolize (the sovereign represents the majesty of the State; numbers are represented by letters).
4 call up in the mind by description or portrayal or imagination; place a likeness of before the mind or senses.
5 serve or be meant as a likeness of.
6 a state by way of expostulation or persuasion (represented the rashness of it). b (foll. by to) try to bring (the facts influencing conduct) home to (represented the risks to his client).
7 (often foll. by as, to be) describe or depict as; declare or make out (represented them as martyrs; not what you represent it to be).
8 (foll. by that + clause) allege.
9 show, or play the part of, on stage.
10 fill the place of; be a substitute or deputy for; be entitled to act or speak for (the Queen was represented by the Princess of Wales).
11 be elected as a member of Parliament, a legislature, etc. by (represents a rural constituency).
Derivative
representable adj. representability n.
Etymology
ME f. OF representer or f. L repraesentare (as RE-, PRESENT(2))
THESAURUS
represent
act a part, act between, act for, act out, affect, answer for, appear for, arbitrate, assert, back up, bargain, betoken, body forth, brandish, breathe, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to life, bring to notice, call to mind, call up, catch a likeness, change places with, character, characterize, chart, commission, conjure up, copy, create a role, crowd out, cut out, dangle, define, delineate, demonstrate, denote, depict, deputize, describe, develop, diagram, disclose, displace, display, divulge, double for, draft, dramatize, draw, emblematize, embody, enact, envisage, envision, epitomize, evidence, evince, evoke, exemplify, exhibit, expose to view, express, fill in for, flaunt, flourish, front for, ghost, ghostwrite, give sign, give token, give words to, go between, highlight, hint, hit off, illuminate, illustrate, image, imitate, impersonate, incarnate, indicate, intercede, intermediate, interpose, interpret, intervene, judge, just see, limn, make clear, make plain, make terms, manifest, map, masquerade as, materialize, mean, mediate, meet halfway, mimic, mirror, moderate, narrate, negotiate, notate, note, objectify, outline, paint, parade, perform, personalize, personate, personify, picture, picturize, pinch-hit, pinch-hit for, play a part, play a role, play opposite, portray, pose as, present, pretend, pretend to be, print, produce, put forth, realize, referee, reflect, register, relate, relieve, render, replace, report, reproduce, reveal, roll out, rub, schematize, see, set forth, show, show forth, signify, sketch, speak for, spell, spell off, spotlight, stand for, stand in for, state, step in, subrogate, substitute, substitute for, succeed, suggest, summon up, supersede, supplant, support, sustain a part, swap places with, symbolize, take a part, take a rubbing, token, trace, trace out, trace over, treat with, trot out, typify, umpire, understudy, understudy for, unfold, vision, visualize, wave, writeROGET THESAURUS
represent
Imitation
VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.Commission
VB commission, delegate, depute, consign, assign, charge, intrust, entrust, commit, commit to the hands of, authorize, put in commission, accredit, engage, hire, bespeak, appoint, name, nominate, return, ordain, install, induct, inaugurate, swear in, invest, crown, enroll, enlist, give power of attorney to, employ, empower, set over, place over, send out, be commissioned, be accredited, represent, stand for, stand in the stead of, stand in the place of, stand in the shoes of.Deputy
VB be deputy, stand for, appear for, hold a brief for, answer for, represent, stand in the shoes of, walk in the shoes of, stand in the stead of, ablegate, accredit.Manifestation
VB make manifest, render manifest, bring forth, bring forward, bring to the front, bring into view, give notice, express, represent, set forth, exhibit, show, show up, expose, produce, hold up to view, expose to view, set before one, place before one, lay before one, one's eyes, tell to one's face, trot out, put through one's paces, bring to light, display, demonstrate, unroll, lay open, draw out, bring out, bring out in strong relief, call into notice, bring into notice, hold up the mirror, wear one's heart upon his sleeve, show one's face, show one's colors, manifest oneself, speak out, make no mystery, make no secret of, unfurl the flag, proclaim, indicate, disclose, elicit, be manifest, appear, transpire, speak for itself, stand to reason, stare one in the face, rear its head, give token, give sign, give indication of, tell its own tale.Information
VB tell, inform, inform of, acquaint, acquaint with, impart, impart to, make acquaintance with, apprise, advise, enlighten, awaken, transmit, let fall, mention, express, intimate, represent, communicate, make known, publish, notify, signify, specify, convey the knowledge of, let one know, have one to know, give one to understand, give notice, set before, lay before, put before, point out, put into one's head, put one in possession of, instruct, direct the attention to, announce, annunciate, report, report progress, bringword, send word, leave word, write word, telegraph, telephone, wire, retail, render an account, give an account, state, let slip, blurt out, spill the beans, unburden oneself of, let off one's chest, disclose, show cause, explain, hint, given an inkling of, give a hint, drop a hint, throw out a hint, insinuate, allude to, make allusion to, glance at, tip the wink, suggest, prompt, give the cue, breathe, whisper, whisper in the ear, give a bit of one's mind, tell one plainly, tell once for all, speak volumes, undeceive, unbeguile, set right, correct, open the eyes of, disabuse, disillusion one of, be informed of, know, learn, get scent of, get wind of, gather from, awaken to, open one's eyes to, become alive, become awake to, hear, overhear, understand, come to one's ears, come to one's knowledge, reach one's ears.Indication
VB indicate, be the sign, of, denote, betoken, argue, testify, bear the impress, of, connote, connotate, represent, stand for, typify, symbolize, put an indication, put a mark, note, mark, stamp, earmark, blaze, label, ticket, docket, dot, spot, score, dash, trace, chalk, print, imprint, impress, engrave, stereotype, make a sign, signalize, underscore, give a signal, hang out a signal, beckon, nod, wink, glance, leer, nudge, shrug, tip the wink, gesticulate, raise the finger, hold up the finger, raise the hand, hold up the hand, saw the air, suit the action to the word, wave a banner, unfurl a banner, hoist a banner, hang out a banner, wave the hand, wave a kerchief, give the cue, show one's colors, give an alarm, sound an alarm, beat the drum, sound the trumpets, raise a cry, sign, seal, attest, underline, call attention to, give notice.Representation
VB copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, V, represent, delineate, depict, depicture, portray, take a likeness, catch a likeness, hit off, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, figure, shadow forth, shadow out, adumbrate, body forth, describe, trace, copy, mold, dress up, illustrate, symbolize, paint, carve, engrave, personate, personify, impersonate, assume a character, pose as, act, play, mimic, hold the mirror up to nature.N representation, representment, imitation, illustration, delineation, depictment, imagery, portraiture, iconography, design, designing, art, fine arts, painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, cinematography, radiography, autoradiography, fluorography, sciagraphy, personation, personification, impersonation, drama, picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, X-ray photo, movie film, movie, tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV, copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, represent, representing, representative, illustrative, represented, imitative, figurative, iconic, like, graphic, cinquecento quattrocento, trecento.
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