intendance

American  

[in-ten-duhns] / ɪnˈtɛn dəns /

noun

1. an administrative department, especially one in the government system introduced by the French statesman Richelieu during the 17th century, or the officials in charge of it.

2. the official quarters of an intendant.

3. the function of an intendant; superintendence; intendancy.

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intendance British  

/ ɪnˈtɛndəns /

noun

1. any of various public departments, esp in France

2. a less common word for superintendence See superintendence

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Etymology

Origin of intendance

From French, dating back to 1730–40; intendant, -ance

Example Sentences

Hunger was a common thorn in Algerian warfare, since not even the matchless intendance of France could regularly supply the troops across those interminable breadths of arid land, those sun-scorched plains, swept by Arab foragers.

From Under Two Flags by Ouida

The origin of this evil is in the office of the Minister of War, where there is a direction of the infantry, one of the cavalry, and one of the intendance, or administration.

From Paris From the Earliest Period to the Present Day; Volume 2 by Walton, William

Your intendance is perfect; your ambulance is perfect; your camp-cookery is perfect, messieurs; and here you have even perfect beauty, too!

From Under Two Flags by Ouida

The troops were served out with three days' provisions, and the intendance was furnished with a supply of "iron rations" from the magazines of the fortress.

From The Franco-German War of 1870-71 by Helmuth, Count

In the 17th and 18th centuries the town was the seat of the intendance of Provence.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• charge
• handling
• management
• manipulation
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