provost

views updated May 09 2018

pro·vost / ˈprōˌvōst/ • n. 1. a senior administrative officer in certain colleges and universities. ∎ Brit. the head of certain university colleges, esp. at Oxford or Cambridge, and public schools.2. the head of a chapter in a cathedral. ∎  the Protestant minister of the principal church of a town or district in Germany and certain other European countries. ∎ hist. the head of a Christian community.3. short for provost marshal.4. Scottish term for mayor.5. hist. the chief magistrate of a French or other European town.DERIVATIVES: pro·vost·ship / ship/ n.

provost

views updated May 23 2018

provost official set over others (in various spec. uses). Late OE. profost (also prafost), corr. to MLG., MDu. provest, MDu. proofst (Du. proost), OHG. probost (G. probst, propst), ONorw. prófastr; in ME. reinforced from AN. provost (also prevost, modF. prévôt) — medL. prōpositus, used alongside præpositus, sb. use of pp. of L. præpōnere place in front, set in authority, f. præ PRE-, PRO-1 + pōnere place.