intendant

American  

[in-ten-duhnt] / ɪnˈtɛn dənt /

noun

1. a person who has the direction or management of some public business, the affairs of an establishment, etc.; a superintendent.

2. the title of various government officials, especially administrators serving under the French, Spanish, or Portuguese monarchies.

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intendant British  

/ ɪnˈtɛndənt /

noun

1. history a provincial or colonial official of France, Spain, or Portugal

2. a senior administrator in some countries, esp in Latin America

3. a superintendent or manager

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Etymology

Origin of intendant

1645–55; < French < Latin intendent- (stem of intendēns ) present participle of intendere to stetch, make an effort (for), attend (to). See intend, -ant

Example Sentences

For the past decade, it has drawn acclaim under the virtuosic showmanship of Barrie Kosky, the outgoing intendant, who will continue to stage new productions at the house.

From New York Times

“We had a sold-out house, so the intendant of the theater called me that morning at 9 a.m. to ask me to play,” recalled the head of the theater’s music staff, Valeria Polunina.

From New York Times

Unlike past intendants, however, Mr. Schulz will not stage operas for the company, which has just moved back to its historic home following a seven-year renovation.

From New York Times

For a long time, he was a nearly homeless intendant, forced to focus his energies on programming in the neo-Baroque Laeiszhalle.

From New York Times

But the experience of how cold and insensitive the building operators, lawyers, and super intendant were, left a harsh feeling in all of us at such a difficult time.

From New York Times