proprietor
[pruh-prahy-i-ter]
- the owner of a business establishment, a hotel, etc.
- a person who has the exclusive right or title to something; an owner, as of real property.
- a group of proprietors; proprietary.
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Origin of proprietor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for proprietor
Contemporary Examples
He was the proprietor of a grimy chicken joint in Rochester, New York.
Seyed, the proprietor, tells us that there is always a way to keep the police quiet.
Once I was pregnant, I embraced my own femininity and settled into my role as decision maker and proprietor.
In the spring of 2012, Don Sammons, the sole resident and proprietor of Buford, decided it was time to sell the 147-year-old town.
America’s Tiniest Town Is Sold And Renamed PhinDeli Town Buford, WyomingNina Strochlic
October 17, 2013
In recent years, Loeb, founder and proprietor of Third Point has gone and acquired stakes in companies like Yahoo!
Historical Examples
Stepping into the store, he attracted the attention of the proprietor.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
The State authority was to be the purchaser, and the occupier was to be the proprietor.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
The lawyer's brows were knit as he faced the proprietor of the store.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
This proprietor was a man of great opulence, and a relative of Naomi.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
Would it be possible for me to speak to the proprietor a moment?
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
proprietor
- an owner of an unincorporated business enterprise
- a person enjoying exclusive right of ownership to some property
- US history a governor or body of governors of a proprietary colony
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for proprietor
n.
1630s, "owner, by royal grant, of an American colony," probably from proprietary (n.) in sense "property owner" (late 15c., see proprietary). In general sense of "one who holds something as property" it is attested from 1640s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper