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provisioner

provisioner

1 7.9
A person or company that supplies food and goods to a large group, often an army
  • noun
  • /prəˈvɪʒənər/
translation icon : proveedor
  • The festival's success depended heavily on the local provisioner who provided fresh produce and meats for the feast.

Examples

  • One effect of market pricing of parking will be to help private sector provisioners of parking: they no longer will have to face so much subsidized, below-cost competition.

    Blog text (2)
  • A marvelous smell of cooking goes forth from the red and blue tents of the provisioners.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I was just coming from behind a row of these jars when the royal soothsayers, Calchas and Phobos, entered, and with them, one of the provisioners to the royal household, a merchant named Cerdo.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The army relied on the provisioner to supply enough food and water for the troops during the campaign.

  • During the expedition, the provisioner coordinated the delivery of supplies to ensure that everyone had enough to eat.

Synonyms

provider
vsprovisioner
65 2.9

A person who gives money, food, or a home to their family

is focused on arranging food and goods mainly for armies and large groups
purveyor
vsprovisioner
23 6.7

A person or company that supplies food to shops and restaurants

organizes food supply for armies and large groups rather than general trade
quartermaster
vsprovisioner
  • Specialized
9 7.7

An army officer who supplies food, equipment and uniforms to soldiers

is an organized supplier for armies and large groups, not an assigned officer
sutler
vsprovisioner
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who sells goods to soldiers near their camp

is a formal or central supplier for large groups rather than a traveling seller
victualer
vsprovisioner
  • Archaic
9.9

A person or company that supplies food for armies and ships

focuses on organized supply for armies and other large groups rather than ships
furnisher
vsprovisioner
4.4

A person or company that supplies goods and services to others

concentrates on food and group catering rather than general material supply

Antonyms

1.8

A person who buys and uses goods or services

How Large

provisioner
1 7.9
wholesaler
22 3.5
distributor
74 3.5
supplier
204 2.7
retailer
205 2.4

Surface Forms

provisioner singular
provisioners plural

Morphology

provisioner = provision (transparent) = provision + er

Standard agentive formation from the verb 'provision' meaning 'one who supplies provisions', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Provisioner comes from the verb provide, itself from the Latin parts pro- meaning 'before' and videre meaning 'to see'. So a provisioner is someone who 'sees ahead' to make sure food and supplies are ready for a group, which explains the modern meaning of a supplier of provisions.