Advertisement

Origin and history of proportion

proportion(n.)

late 14c., proporcioun, "due relation of one part to another," also "size, extent; comparative relation of one thing to another in size, degree, number, etc.," from Old French proporcion "measure, proportion" (13c.) and directly from Latin proportionem (nominative proportio) "comparative relation, analogy," from phrase pro portione "according to the relation" (of parts to each other), from pro "for" (see pro-) + ablative of *partio "division," related to pars "a part, piece, a share, a division" (from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot"). Also from late 14c. as "relation of body parts," hence "form, shape." Phrase out of proportion attested by 1670s.

My fortunes [are] as ill proportioned as your legs. [John Marston, "Antonio and Mellida," 1602]

proportion(v.)

"to adjust or regulate the proportions of; to form according to suitable or harmonious proportions," late 14c., proporciounen, from proportion (n.) and in part from Old French proporcioner and directly from Medieval Latin proportionare. Related: Proportioned; proportioning.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to proportion

disproportion(n.)

"want of proportion of one thing to another, lack of symmetry," 1550s; see dis- + proportion. Perhaps from or based on French disproportion (16c.). As a verb from 1590s. Related: Disproportioned.

proportional(adj.)

late 14c. proporcional (implied in proporcionalli), "having a particular correspondence, according to or having a due proportion," from Old French proporcionel and directly from Late Latin proportionalis "pertaining to proportions," from proportio "comparative relation, analogy" (see proportion (n.)). The phrase proportional representation in the political sense for representation based on numerical proportion (rather than regional division) is attested by 1821. Related: Proportionally.

Advertisement

More to explore

proportionate
"of proper proportion; adjusted to something else according to a certain rate or relation; corresponding in regard to size, amount, nature, etc.," late 14c., proporcionate, from Medieval Latin proportionatus "proportioned," past participle of proportionare, from Latin proportio "
symmetry
1560s, "relation of parts, proportion," a sense now obsolete, from French symmétrie (16c.) and directly from Latin symmetria, from Greek symmetria "agreement in dimensions, due proportion, arrangement," from symmetros "having a common measure, even, proportionate." This is from a
balance
early 13c., "scales, apparatus for weighing by comparison of mass," from Old French balance "balance, scales for weighing" (12c.), also in figurative sense; from Medieval Latin bilancia, from Late Latin bilanx, from Latin (libra) bilanx "(scale) having two pans," possibly from La
analogy
early 15c., "correspondence, proportion," from Old French analogie or directly from Latin analogia, from Greek analogia "...proportion," from ana "upon, according to" (see ana-) + logos "ratio," also "word, speech, reckoning" (from PIE root *leg...The meaning "partial agreement, likeness or proportion between things" is from 1540s....
temperature
mid-15c., "fact of being tempered, proper proportion;" 1530s, "character or nature of a substance," from Latin temperatura..."a tempering, moderation," from temperatus, past participle of temperare "to mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain...
analogous
corresponding (to some other) in particulars," 1640s, from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos "proportionate, according to due proportion...," from ana "throughout; according to" (see ana-) + logos "ratio, proportion," a specialized use (see Logos)....
temperament
late 14c., "proportioned mixture of elements," from Latin temperamentum "proper mixture, a mixing in due proportion," from...temperare "to mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain oneself" (see temper (v.))....
harmonize
late 15c., "play or sing in harmony," from French harmoniser (15c.), from Old French harmonie (see harmony). Meaning "be in harmony (with), go well together" is from 1620s. Transitive sense "bring into harmony" is from 1700; figurative sense "bring into agreement" is from 1767. M
arrangement
"act of arraigning, act of putting in proper order," 1740, from French arrangement (Old French arengement), from arranger "arrange" (see arrange). The meaning "that which is put in order, combination of parts or materials" is from 1800. The sense in music, "adaptation of a compos
quotient
in mathematics, "the result of the process of division, quantity resulting from the division of one number by another, number of times one quantity is contained in another," mid-15c., quocient, from Latin quotiens "how often? how many times?; as often as," pronominal adverb of ti

Share proportion

Advertisement
Trending
Dictionary entries near proportion
Advertisement