▪ I. provend, n. Obs. or arch.
(ˈprɒvənd)
Also 4–6 provende.
[a. F. provende (12th c. in Littré) † a prebend, a supply of food, provender = It. profenda, † provenda, provender, med.L. provenda (13th c. in Du Cange):—Romanic type *prōvenda (whence also OSax. prôvenda, OHG. pfrovinta (G. pfründe), MLG., MDu. proven(d)e, ON. próvenda, prófenda, etc.); altered form of L. præbenda, prēbenda, prebend (with pro- for præ-, pre- (see pro-1 3), and Romanic v from b): cf. provost, and OF. provoire for prevoire:—presˈbyt'rum priest. See also provender, and provand, provant, proviant, representing the same word.
(Cf. Tobler in Cohn's Suffixw. 81, Körting Rom. WB. no. 7360.) Diez (s.v. prebenda) suggests that the word has been influenced by L. prōvid-ēre to provide.]
1. = prebend 1; also, the portion or allowance of food supplied to each inmate of a monastery; stipend.
| [1292 Britton ii. xvii. §6 Touz prelatz et religious demaundauntz tenementz estre apurtenauntz a lour eglises ou a lour provendes.] c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 210 Þei rene þam prouendes, þorgh power þat þei haue. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6931 If we seen hym wynne honour Richesse or preis thurgh his valour Prouende rent or dignyte. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 415/2 The other dayes he gaue his prouende to poure peple. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In monasteries, when the religious go to meals, they are said to go to provend. 1873 Longfellow Wayside Inn iii. Monk of Casal-Maggiore vii, Brother Anthony..Drove him [the ass] before him..Safe with his provend to the convent gate. |
2. Food, provisions; esp. (in early use always) dry food for horses, as corn and hay; = provender 2.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10730 Mete & drynke, & hors prouende. 1570 Levins Manip. 65/1 Prouende, pabalum, i. a 1687 Cotton Winter xxx, With Hail instead of Provend fed. 1853 Fraser's Mag. XLVIII. 423 He gives us an elaborate account of the provend and cuisine. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., 'Tis a proud horse that won't carry its own proven. 1900 Crockett Fitting of Peats iii. in Love Idylls (1901) 24 It shall never be said that Adam Home took another man's horse and provend without asking his leave. |
▪ II. † ˈprovend, v. Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To supply with provender; to feed, to fodder.
| 1581 A. Hall Iliad ii. 30 Do throughly prouend wel your Horsse. c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. Wks. (1862) 67 I'll fodder an Provon the Tits for the. |