Report

Report (O.Fr. report or raport, modern rapport, from O.Fr. reporter, mod. rapporter, Lat. reportare, to bring back, in poetical use only, of bringing back an account, news, &c.), an account or statement of events, speeches, proceedings, the results of investigations, &c., "brought back" by one who was present either casually or sent for the specific purpose, hence reputation, rumour. A special sense, that of a loud noise, as of the explosion of firearms, appears as early as the end of the 16th century. For the reports of speeches, parliamentary debates, &c., in the daily press see Reporting below, and for the particular form of law reporting see English Law; American Law.