proveditor also in It. form ‖ proveditore.
(prəʊˈvɛdɪtə(r), provediˈtore)
Also α. 7 proveditour, -videto(u)r, -vidator, 7 -viditor; β. (as It.) 6–7 providitore, 7 -videtore, 9 provv-; pl. -veditori (7 -vidatory).
[ad. obs. It. proved-, mod. provveditore, provider, purveyor, agent-n. from provedere to provide: so in F. provéditeur.]
1. The title of certain officers of the Venetian republic: e.g. a commissioner or delegate who acted as adviser to the commander of a military force; the governor of a dependency; a governor, overseer, inspector.
| α 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. i. 32 We came too an anker vppon good wyll and request of the Proveditor. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. 97 With the armie they sende diuers of their gentlemen as legats or prouiditors. 1668 Lond. Gaz. No. 222/2 The Proveditor of Candia Seignior Lorenzo Pisani. 1693 J. Edwards Author. O. & N. Test. 216 Joseph..was Grand Proveditor of that country. 1756 Nugent Gr. Tour, Italy III. 82 Besides these the Venetians have..a common proveditor who takes care of the bridges and keeps the city neat. 1832 tr. Sismondi's Ital. Rep. xvi. 361 The patriots, warned in time, arrested the proveditor himself. |
| β 1549 Thomas Hist. Italie 82 They create a Proueditore, who (out of Venice) is of no lesse authoritee, than the Dictatour was wont to be in Rome. 1696 tr. Du Mont's Voy. Levant xxvi. 242 Both the City and the Harbour are commanded by a very fine Castle, where the Proveditore..resides. 1825 Scott Talism. xxiv, ‘I protest against such a combat’, said the Venetian proveditore. |
2. A purveyor, caterer, steward. Also
fig.| α 1697 T. Smith Voy. Constantinople in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 30 Nor did I ever see any in their Fish-Markets, or one of them brought to the Ambassador's Table by the Providetor for curiosity. a 1716 South Serm. (1744) XI. vii. 164 He..made the liberality of heaven the instrument of his vanity and the very proveditor for his lust. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton ix. (1840) 163 Our new providitor ordered some of our negroes to plant it. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. viii. 288 Ready money in open market..being found upon experience to be the best proveditor of any. 1861 Thackeray Four Georges iii. (1862) 130 He..is proud, he says, to be that gentleman's proveditor. 1872 City Press 20 Jan., A committee dinner of the Ironmongers' Company took place at the hall, Mr. Webster being the proveditor. |
| β 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 38 This well meaning Pater patriæ, and prouiditore and supporter of Yarmouth [the herring]. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. Sect. viii. 113 The entertainment, that S. John's Proveditore the Angel gave him. a 1716 South Serm. (1823) I. 420 Can any one dare to make him [Christ]..his providetore for such things as can only feed his pride, and flush his ambition? |
3. Comb. proveditor-general [
cf. general a. 10].
| 1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3706/1 Proveditore-General Molino, who has the Chief Command of the Venetian Forces in Italy. 1724 Briton No. 23. 100 Vinegar, who is Proveditor-General of Cudgels for the inferior Class of Combatants at the Bear-Garden. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 275 By the help of our proveditor-general we fared very well. 1730 A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 80 Physician to the Proveditor-General [of Candia]. |