purveyor
UK: pəˈveɪə | US: pərˈveɪər
n. a person or company that supplies food, goods, or services
n. (historical) an official responsible for procuring provisions for a royal household or army
purveyor = purvey<provide> + or<agent noun suffix>
- purvey (from Old French porveoir, Latin providēre "to foresee, provide")
- Combines pro- (forward) + vidēre (to see), originally meaning "to foresee" but later specialized to "supply provisions."
- -or (agent noun suffix, from Latin -or, indicating a person who performs an action)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin providēre ("to foresee"), which evolved into Old French porveoir with a shifted meaning of "to arrange or supply." In Middle English, purveyen retained this sense of provisioning, and the suffix -or (from Latin) was added to denote the person performing the action. Over time, purveyor became associated with suppliers of goods, especially in formal or historical contexts.
The local purveyor delivered fresh produce to the restaurant every morning.
In medieval times, a royal purveyor ensured the castle had enough food and wine.
She became a purveyor of rare books, sourcing first editions for collectors.
The army’s purveyor negotiated contracts with farmers for grain and meat.
As a purveyor of fine cheeses, he traveled across Europe to select the best varieties.