purveyors
/pərˈveɪərz/
noun
Origin
Anglo-Norman
purveier — to provide, to foresee
Overview
Meaning Now
- people or businesses that sell or provide goods, especially food and drink.
- people or groups that promote or spread ideas, information, or opinions, often those considered undesirable.
Literal older meaning
those who provide or see to something
Language path
Latin → Anglo-Norman → English
Earliest form
purveour
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term historically referred specifically to an officer tasked with providing provisions for the royal household or army. Over time, it broadened to denote any professional merchant or supplier, and eventually metaphorically to anyone who 'supplies' abstract concepts like gossip or ideologies.
Evolution
- Latin
providere
“to foresee, to provide for”
From pro- (forward) + videre (to see).
- Old French
porveoir
“to provide, to supply”
- Anglo-Norman
purveour
“one who supplies provisions”
- Middle English
purveiour
“someone who supplies or maintains”
- Modern English
purveyor
“a supplier of goods or information”
Connections
Word parts
purvey
root
to supply or provide
-or
suffix
agent suffix denoting a person who performs an action
-s
ending
plural marker
Related across languages
French
pourvoir
to provide
Spanish
proveer
to provide/supply
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Related to purveyors
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.