provost

[ proh-vohst, prov-uhstin military usage, 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. prəˈvəʊ military a military policeman

Other Words From

• provost·ship 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