provost
/ˈpɹoʊvoʊst/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.15 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A senior deputy, a superintendent
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
- "Here comes Signor Claudio, led by the provost to prison;"
- "Around the time of the Rebellions of 1837 and the First Anglo-Afghan War, British servicemen spoke of being provosted."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: -, prōfost, prōpositus, praepositus, provolt, provost
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɹoʊvoʊst/
- British English: /ˈpɹɒvəst/
Usage
- British usage
- Obsolete
- American usage
- Slang
- Transitive verb
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Lord Provost
provost cell
Provost Marshall
provost marshal
provost-place
provost seal
provost sergeant
sit provost-place
Synonyms
dean
president
ruler
mayor
prepositus
steward
viceroy
governor
reeve
prefect and praetor
police officer