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provost

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The definition of a provost is a person with authority.

(noun)

An example of a provost is a school principal.

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See provost in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a superintendent; official in charge
the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh
Obsolete a jailer
Eccles. the head of a cathedral chapter or principal church
Educ.
1. the head of any of certain colleges in the British Isles
2. ☆ in certain American universities, an administrative official dealing chiefly with faculty, curriculum, etc.

Origin: ME < OE profost & OFr provost, both < ML propositus, for L praepositus, chief, prefect, orig. pp. of praeponere, to set before, place first < prae-, before + ponere, to place: see pre- & position

Related Forms:

provostship noun

See provost in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Abbr. Prov.

A university administrator of high rank.
The highest official in certain cathedrals or collegiate churches.
The keeper of a prison.
The chief magistrate of certain Scottish cities.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English profost

Origin: and Old French provost

Origin: , both from Medieval Latin prōpositus

Origin: , alteration of Latin praepositus, person placed over others, superintendent

Origin: , from past participle of praepōnere, to place over

Origin: : prae-, pre-

Origin: + pōnere, to put; see apo- in Indo-European roots

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