portrait

Where does the word "portrait" come from? It comes from Latin trahere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1500s).

Portrait’s story begins in Latin: trahere meant “to pull, to draw.” To pull, to draw, combined with pro- (forth). Within Latin, it grew into protrahere by ancient. To draw forth, to reveal, from pro- and trahere. From there it passed into Old French as portraire by medieval. Carried into French for drawing a likeness of someone. It reached English by 1500s as portrait. Settled as the English word for a painted or drawn likeness of a person. Today, portrait means a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, especially of their face.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient trahere "to pull, to draw", to pull, to draw, combined with pro- (forth).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient protrahere "to draw forth, to reveal", to draw forth, to reveal, from pro- and trahere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval portraire "to draw a likeness of someone", carried into French for drawing a likeness of someone.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s portrait "a painted or drawn likeness of a person", settled as the English word for a painted or drawn likeness of a person.