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provenance

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Provenance is defined as the place where something originally came or began, or a record tracing the ownership history of certain items that helps to confirm their authenticity and value.

(noun)

When a rug is woven in India, this is an example of a time when the provenance is India.
When a piece of art can be traced back in history as first having been owned by a King and then by two collectors, this history of the owners is an example of the provenance of the art.

See provenance in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

origin; derivation; source

Origin: Fr < provenir < L provenire, to come forth < pro-, forth + venire, to come

See provenance in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Place of origin; derivation.
a. The history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated. Used of artworks, antiques, and books.
b. The records or documents authenticating such an object or the history of its ownership.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from provenant

Origin: , present participle of provenir, to originate

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin prōvenīre

Origin: : prō-, forth; see pro-¹

Origin: + venīre, to come; see g^wā- in Indo-European roots

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