provenance

American  

[prov-uh-nuhns, -nahns] / ˈprɒv ə nəns, -ˌnɑns /

noun

1. place or source of origin.

   The provenance of the ancient manuscript has never been determined.

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provenance British  

/ ˈprɒvɪnəns, prəʊˈviːnɪəns /

noun

1. a place of origin, esp that of a work of art or archaeological specimen

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Etymology

Origin of provenance

1860–65; < French, derivative of provenant, present participle of provenir < Latin prōvenīre to come forth; pro- ¹, convene, -ant

Example Sentences

Queer desire, femininity, and lipstick form an intrepid triptych in the form of pop star Chappell Roan, whose persona betrays both her rural Missouri provenance and the glittery legacy of drag performance.

From Salon

"If the authenticity and lawful provenance of the collection are documented, the Ministry of Culture will immediately finalise measures for its acquisition," it said.

From Barron's

"Demand is being driven by consumers looking for premium, high-quality seafood they can trust, with Scottish salmon particularly valued in high-end dining and sashimi markets for its quality, provenance, and consistency," the spokesperson said.

From BBC

Instead of narration, unobtrusive captions appeared on screen with price, provenance or other details about various market items, leaving room for the ambient sounds to come to the fore.

From The Wall Street Journal

The first New York Times story stemming from Littlejohn’s disclosure was published in September 2020, though the documents’ provenance wasn’t clear then.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• origin