Middle English Dictionary Entry
prōvīsǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prōvīsǒur n. Also provisor. |
| Etymology | OF (cp. AF provisour, CF provisëor) & L prōvīsor, -ōris. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Eccl. One to whom the pope has granted the right to be appointed to a benefice as soon as a vacancy occurs; also, a religious to whom the pope has granted exemption from the duty of obedience to his canonical superiors; statut of provisours, any of the fourteenth-century acts that restricted the power of the pope in appointing to benefices, in granting exemptions from obedience to a canonical superior, etc.; (b) one who provides for, or takes care of, another.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1350-1) Statutes Realm1.318 : Et en cas qe les presentes le Roi ou les presentes dautres patrons de seinte eglise..soient desturbez par tiels provisours, issint qils ne puissent avoir possession de tieles benefices..adonqes soient les ditz provisours..attaches par lour corps..et sils soient convictz, demoergent en prisone sanz estre lesse a meinprise. ]
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.116 : Rede me not..Reuþe to haue Til..alle Rome Renners for Robbeours of bi-ȝonde Bere no seluer ouer see..Bote hit beo Marchaund oþur his men or Messager with lettres, Or Prouisours [B: Prouysoure] or Preestes þat Popes a-vaunset.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2905 : To speke of Falswitnesse, There be nou many such, I gesse, That lich unto the provisours Thei make hire prive procurous To telle hou ther is such a man Which is worthi to love.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.136 : She is preuy wiþ þe pope; prouisours it knowiþ.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.182 : Symonye and cyuyle seiden and sworen That prestes and prouisours sholde prelates seruen.
- (1447) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113179 : Who so ever bring one of the said processes..shal be putt oute of the Kings protection..and processe maad ayens hym be 'Praemunire facias', lyk to the maner therof contiened in the statutes of Provisores.
- (1447) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113180 : If ony provision be maad to ony persone of Religion, or to any other persone, of exemption of obedience Regulier or of obedience ordinarie..the provisour that accepteth or enjoyeth ony such provision shall reune into the peyne comprised in a Statute of Provisours maad the xiij yere of the said King Richarde.
- (1455) RParl.5.303a : If eny of youre Liege people..take and receyve youre Graunte or Grauntes of eny of the premisses..then he or they, as ofte as he or they that so take or receyve, renne in the penaltee of the Statutes of provisours.
b
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)674/5 : The Cure of all the Chirche was I-commytted to hym of God, prouisor of all goode peple.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.147 : lij m of citesynnes of London were redy at his commaundemente as to obbey the commune provisor [L provisori] of alle poore peple.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)40/5 : Whan þou hast crist, þou art riche and it sufficiþ þe; he shal be þi prouisour [L provisor], þy true procutour in all þinges.