rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: pro-
Latin

pro-

before, forward; on behalf of

Forms

  • pro-
  • por- — An older Latin variant retained in some compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *pro, ‘before; forward.’

Note

Standing in front of someone can develop into acting on that person’s behalf.

108 / 131
A valuable antique vase accompanied by a chronological visual record: three overlapping archival photographs show the same distinctive vase in an old private collection, on an auction pedestal, and in a museum display.
noun

provenance

PRAH-vuh-nuns/ˈprɑːvənəns/

The history of where something came from.

Etymology
proLatinbefore, forward; on behalf of
+venLatincome
+anceFrenchan action, state, or quality

The pieces express ‘coming forth,’ which became the idea of origin or source. An object's provenance concerns where it came from, including the ownership history that traces that origin.

Full entry

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