- narration
- 1432, from O.Fr. narration "a relating, recounting, narrating," from L. narrationem (nom. narratio), from narrare "to tell, relate, recount, explain," lit. "to make acquainted with," from gnarus "knowing," from PIE suffixed zero-grade *gne-ro-, from base *gno- "to know" (see know). Narrate is first recorded 1656, but was stigmatized as Scot. and not in general use until 19c.