"serving to represent," late 14c., from Old French representatif (early 14c.), from Medieval Latin repræsentativus, from Latin repræsentare (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."