Provost
/ˈprɒvəst/noun
A senior official who supervises an institution, or the head of certain collegiate or municipal bodies.
Did you know?Provost comes through Old French from Latin praepositus, meaning “placed in front,” the same root that gave English words tied to authority and position.
Etymological Timeline
Latin (Late Antiquity)
Latin
praepositus
“a person placed in charge; a superintendent or overseer”
Old French
Old French
provost / prevost
“an official placed over others; a local administrator”
Middle English
English
provost
“a chief officer, magistrate, or ecclesiastical administrator”
Modern English
English
provost
“a senior academic, municipal, or military official”
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