provost

[ proh-vohst, prov-uh st or, esp. in military usage, proh-voh ]
/ ˈproʊ voʊst, ˈprɒv əst or, esp. in military usage, ˈproʊ voʊ /

noun

a person appointed to superintend or preside.
an administrative officer in any of various colleges and universities who holds high rank and is concerned with the curriculum, faculty appointments, etc.
Ecclesiastical. the chief dignitary of a cathedral or collegiate church.
the steward or bailiff of a medieval manor or an officer of a medieval administrative district.
the mayor of a municipality in Scotland.
Obsolete. a prison warden.

Origin of provost

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

OTHER WORDS FROM provost

pro·vost·ship, noun

Example sentences from the Web for provost

British Dictionary definitions for provost

provost
/ (ˈprɒvəst) /

noun

Word Origin for provost

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