convey
UK[kənˈveɪ]US[kənˈveɪ]
v
To communicate or express something, with or without words.
v
To transport or carry something from one place to another.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
vey
con
together
vey
way
Etymology
The word 'convey' entered Middle English from Anglo-French 'conveier', which itself evolved from Vulgar Latin 'conviare', meaning 'to escort'. This Vulgar Latin term is a compound of the intensive prefix 'com-' (together) and the noun 'via' (road, way). The literal sense was "to accompany or guide someone along a way." Over time in English, the meaning broadened from the physical act of transporting goods or people to also encompass the figurative act of transmitting ideas, feelings, or information from one point (a speaker's mind) to another (a listener's understanding), following a conceptual pathway.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + vey (way)
- con: A prefix from Latin 'cum', meaning 'together' or 'with'. It functions as an intensifier and unifier in the word.
- vey: A root from Latin 'via', meaning 'way' or 'road'. It functions as the core semantic element related to a path or means of transport.
Examples
The artist's paintings convey a deep sense of melancholy.
This pipeline conveys water from the reservoir to the city.
Please convey my apologies to the host for my late arrival.