provost

noun, verb — 20 senses

provost

noun

UK /ˈpɹɒvəst/ · US /ˈpɹoʊvoʊst/

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.

19 senses
  1. 1A dean: the head of a cathedral chapter.
  2. 2The head of various other ecclesiastical bodies, even…
  3. 3The minister of the chief Protestant church of a town or…
  4. 4The head of various colleges and universities.
  5. 5A ruler.
  6. 6A mayor: the chief magistrate of a town, particularly…
  7. 7A prior: an abbot's second-in-command.
  8. 8A senior deputy administrator; a vice-president of…
  9. 9A steward or seneschal: a medieval agent given…
  10. 10A title of the archangel Michael.
  11. 11Any manager or overseer in a medieval or early modern context.
  12. 12A viceroy.
  13. 13A governor.
  14. 14A reeve.
  15. 15The head of various Roman offices, such as prefect and praetor.
  16. 16A constable: a medieval or early modern official charged…
  17. 17An officer of the military police, particularly provost…
  18. 18An assistant fencing master.
  19. 19A provost cell: a military cell or prison.

› One placed in charge: a head, a chief

1

Lifestyle, Religion Historical A dean: the head of a cathedral chapter.

2

Lifestyle, Religion The head of various other ecclesiastical bodies, even (rare, obsolete) muezzins.

3

Lifestyle, Religion The minister of the chief Protestant church of a town or region in Germany, the Low Countries, and Scandinavia.

4

Education, Higher education UK The head of various colleges and universities.

5

Obsolete A ruler.

6

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.

  • 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.1950 January, “Re-Opening of the Eyemouth Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 52:

› A senior deputy, a superintendent

7

Lifestyle, Religion Historical A prior: an abbot's second-in-command.

8

Education, Higher education US A senior deputy administrator; a vice-president of academic affairs.

  • 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.1982 August 21, Keith Beasley, “U/Mass Professors To Keep Positions Despite Controversy”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 6, page 3:
  • 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.2022 September 8, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian:
9

Historical A steward or seneschal: a medieval agent given management of a feudal estate or charged with collecting fees.

10

Obsolete, Sometimes A title of the archangel Michael.

As ~ of Paradise or ~ of Heaven

11

Historical Any manager or overseer in a medieval or early modern context.

12

Obsolete A viceroy.

13

Obsolete A governor.

14

Obsolete A reeve.

15

Obsolete The head of various Roman offices, such as prefect and praetor.

16

Historical A constable: a medieval or early modern official charged with arresting, holding, and punishing criminals.

  • Here comes Signor Claudio, led by the provost to prison;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:
17

Government, Military, Politics, War An officer of the military police, particularly provost marshal or provost sergeant.

18

Fencing, Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War Historical An assistant fencing master.

19

Government, Military, Politics, War UK, Obsolete, Slang A provost cell: a military cell or prison.

Synonyms
dean, president, ruler, mayor, prepositus, steward, viceroy, governor, reeve, prefect and praetor, police officer
Derived terms
Lord Provost, provostal, provost cell, provostess, provostial, Provost Marshall, provost marshal, provostorial, provost-place, provostry, provost seal, provost sergeant, provostship, sit provost-place, Stour Provost

provost

verb

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.

1

Government, Military, Politics, War UK, Obsolete, Slang, Used in passive To be delivered to a provost marshal for punishment.

  • Around the time of the Rebellions of 1837 and the First Anglo-Afghan War, British servicemen spoke of being provosted.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.