relates
|re-late|
/rɪˈleɪt/
(relate)
connected
Etymology
'relate' originates from Latin, specifically the past participle 'relatus' (from the verb 'referre'), where 're-' meant 'back' and 'ferre' meant 'to carry' or 'bring'.
'relate' passed into Old French as 'relater' and Middle English as 'relaten', and it eventually became the modern English verb 'relate'.
Initially, it meant 'to bring back' or 'to report/bring back information'; over time it evolved into the modern senses of 'to tell/narrate', 'to show a connection', and 'to empathize/identify with'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to tell or give an account of something (to report or narrate events or facts).
She relates the events of the trip in a clear, engaging way.
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Verb 2
to show or establish a connection or relationship between two or more things.
The study relates high sugar intake to an increased risk of disease.
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Verb 3
to find something in common with someone; to identify with or understand someone else's situation (often used with 'to').
He relates to teenagers because he remembers being one himself.
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Last updated: 2025/12/22 02:39