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DictionaryRoot: ponere
Latin

ponere

put, place

Forms

  • pon-
  • posit- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘placed.’

Origin

Disputed. Proposals connect it either with older elements meaning ‘away’ and ‘leave,’ or with an Indo-European root meaning ‘settle; dwell.’

Note

Some French forms arose from a verb meaning ‘rest’ or ‘pause’ but acquired meanings under this root’s influence.

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noun

provost

PROH-vohst/ˈprəʊvəʊst/

A senior official governing an institution or community.

The provost meets with faculty leaders to discuss academic priorities.

A senior academic administrator presides over a small faculty planning meeting, wearing a modest academic gown over professional clothes, two colleagues listening; plain folders and no university names or lettering.
Etymology
proLatinbefore, in front of
+vostLatinput, place

Someone “placed before” others was someone put in charge—a chief or prefect. That leadership sense connects the older title to a senior official overseeing a college or university.

In context

AU IDPP1:00
Masters in comparative and international Disability Policy offered by American University the School of International Service in Washington DC and I have with me here miss Violetta edel the vice Provost for academic administration at American University
Interview with American University Vice Provost for Academic Administration Ms. Violeta Ettle

More examples

  • Students ask the provost to expand the university's tutoring program.
  • The two provosts compare their colleges' graduation requirements.
  • In Scotland, the provost welcomes guests to the town's civic ceremony.

Forms

provost · provosts

Similar words

administrator
Covers a wider range of managerial roles, including junior ones.
dean
Usually leads one school or faculty, not the entire institution.
mayor
Heads a city or town rather than an academic institution.