provost

[proh-vohst, prov-uhst, proh-voh]

noun

1. a person appointed to superintend or preside.

2. an administrative officer in any of various colleges and universities who holds high rank and is concerned with the curriculum, faculty appointments, etc.

3. Ecclesiastical.,  the chief dignitary of a cathedral or collegiate church.

4. the steward or bailiff of a medieval manor or an officer of a medieval administrative district.

5. the mayor of a municipality in Scotland.

6. Obsolete.,  a prison warden.

provost

/ ˈprɒvəst /

noun

1. an appointed person who superintends or presides

2. the head of certain university colleges or schools

3. (in Scotland) the chairman and civic head of certain district councils or (formerly) of a burgh council Compare convener

4. Church of England the senior dignitary of one of the more recent cathedral foundations

5. RC Church

   1. the head of a cathedral chapter in England and some other countries

   2. (formerly) the member of a monastic community second in authority under the abbot

6. (in medieval times) an overseer, steward, or bailiff in a manor

7. obsolete,  a prison warder

8. military a military policeman

Other Word Forms

• provostship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of provost¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English profost < Medieval Latin prōpositus abbot, prior, provost, literally, (one) placed before, Latin: past participle of prōpōnere. See pro- ¹, posit

Word History and Origins

Origin of provost¹

Old English profost, from Medieval Latin prōpositus placed at the head (of), from Latin praepōnere to place first, from prae- before + pōnere to put

Example Sentences

“There has been no statement from the provost office rebutting Harrison’s rhetoric.”

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“I would discourage anybody from throwing them out,” says Damon Yarnell, associate provost and executive director of career development at the University of Richmond.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The group is expected to release its latest report this month and present the findings to the UC systemwide provost, Academic Senate chair and Academic Planning Council in the fall.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

East Renfrewshire Council aimed to sell the HS 0 plate – once used by the official car of its provost – for a six-figure sum to raise vital cash.

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The board quickly brought back the old provost and the former president, Kent Fuchs, who was credited with leading the university to the top five.

Read more on New York Times