"serving to represent," late 14c., from O.Fr. representatif (early 14c.), from M.L. repręsentativus, from L. repręsentare (see represent), Meaning "standing for others" is from 1620s; in the political sense of "holding the place of the people in the government, having citizens represented by chosen persons" is first recorded 1620s. Noun use first recorded 1640s; first used 1690s in noun sense of "member of a legislative body."