provost
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɹɒvəst/
ipa: /ˈpɹɒvɒst/
ipa: /pɹəʊˈvəʊ/
ipa: /ˈpɹoʊvoʊst/
ipa: /ˈpɹɑvəst/
rhymes: (military police) -əʊ
Forms: form: provosts
Etymology: From Middle English, from late Old English prōfost, prāfost, from Late Latin prōpositus, variant of Latin praepositus (“[one] placed in command”). In some senses, via Anglo-Norman provolt; via Anglo-Norman and Old French provost (modern French prévôt). As a Central European ecclesiastical office, via German Propst, Danish provst, etc.
Senses: topics: lifestyle
religion
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
A dean: the head of a cathedral chapter.
topics: lifestyle
religion
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
The head of various other ecclesiastical bodies, even (rare, obsolete) muezzins.
topics: lifestyle
religion
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
The minister of the chief Protestant church of a town or region in Germany, the Low Countries, and Scandinavia.
topics: education
higher-education
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
The head of various colleges and universities.
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
A ruler.
examples: text: The repairs were completed in the summer of last year, more than ten months after the line had been closed, and the branch was re-opened on June 29, when Mr. T. F. Cameron, Chief Regional Officer, Scottish Region, received Provost J. S. Collin, of Eyemouth, at the station. The 12.42. p.m. train to Burnmouth was signalled out of the station by the Provost, after he had been introduced to the crew.
ref: 1950 January, “Re-Opening of the Eyemouth Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 52:
glosses: One placed in charge: a head, a chief
A mayor: the chief magistrate of a town, particularly (Scotland) the head of a burgh or (historical) the former chiefs of various towns in France, Flanders, or (by extension) other Continental European countries.
topics: lifestyle
religion
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A prior: an abbot's second-in-command.
examples: text: The provost of the University of Massachusetts has reversed a decision by faculty personnel committees not to renew the contracts of two professors engaged in sex research.
ref: 1982 August 21, Keith Beasley, “U/Mass Professors To Keep Positions Despite Controversy”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 6, page 3:
text: The princess, already a serious and diligent child, was given lessons on constitutional matters by Sir Henry Marten, the provost of Eton, and became aware even then that she should not show emotion and must maintain a certain reserve.
ref: 2022 September 8, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian:
topics: education
higher-education
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A senior deputy administrator; a vice-president of academic affairs.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A steward or seneschal: a medieval agent given management of a feudal estate or charged with collecting fees.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A title of the archangel Michael.
raw_tags: as ~ of Paradise or ~ of Heaven
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
Any manager or overseer in a medieval or early modern context.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A viceroy.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A governor.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A reeve.
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
The head of various Roman offices, such as prefect and praetor.
examples: text: Here comes Signor Claudio, led by the provost
to prison;
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 113:
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
A constable: a medieval or early modern official charged with arresting, holding, and punishing criminals.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
An officer of the military police, particularly provost marshal or provost sergeant.
topics: fencing
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: A senior deputy, a superintendent
An assistant fencing master.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: A provost cell: a military cell or prison.
Synonyms: sense: head of cathedral chapter
word: dean
sense: head of a university or college
word: president
sense: head of a university or college
word: dean
sense: head of a realm or state
word: ruler
sense: head of a town
word: mayor
sense: head of various specific bodies
word: prepositus
sense: deputy overseeing medieval estates or fees
word: steward
sense: deputy to a king or emperor
word: viceroy
sense: deputy overseeing a province
word: governor
sense: reeve
word: reeve
sense: Roman officials
word: prefect and praetor
sense: deputy overseeing medieval law enforcement; military police
word: police officer
Derived terms: Lord Provost
provostal
provost cell
Provost Marshall
provost marshal
provostorial
provost-place
provost seal
provost sergeant
provostship
sit provost-place