province English · revision 4989

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1330|origins=la provincia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprɒv.ɪns/, US /ˈprɑː.vɪns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|province]], [[bor|fro|province]] and directly from [[la|prōvincia|t=territory outside Italy under Roman rule; an official charge]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is traditionally explained as prō- “before” and vincere “to conquer”, but that does not suit the earliest Latin sense, “jurisdiction, governorship”;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) MWU compares Gothic frauja “lord”.^(MWU 2024) It is the source of the name [[Provence]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A country, territory or region: about 1330 in the OED, before 1338 in Barnhart, in Mannyng's Chronicle,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An administrative division of a country is from 1382,^(OED 1989) and the district of an archbishop from 1377.^(OED 1989) In Roman history a province was a conquered territory outside Italy ruled by a governor from Rome (before 1380); the earliest was Sicily.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The North American colonies of Britain, later provinces of Canada, were so called from 1622.^(OED 1989) The meaning “one's particular business, sphere or expertise” is from the 1620s, in Bacon.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''The provinces'', the parts of a country away from the capital, is a later use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Provincial'' is from before 1378.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1330 – a region.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1377 – an archbishop's province.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – a division of a country.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – British North American colonies.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – one's sphere of action.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of the main administrative divisions of some countries, such as [[Canada]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''the provinces'': the parts of a country away from the [[capital]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An area of knowledge or activity that belongs to someone: ''that's not my province''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A district under the authority of an [[archbishop]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subprovince]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[provincial]]

+ * [[Provence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}