purveyance

American  

[per-vay-uhns] / pərˈveɪ əns /

noun

1. the act of purveying.

2. something that is purveyed, as provisions.

3. English Law. a prerogative of the crown, abolished in 1660, allowing provisions, supplies, or services for the sovereign or the royal household to be purchased or acquired at an appraised value.

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purveyance British  

/ pəˈveɪəns /

noun

1. history the collection or requisition of provisions for a sovereign

2. rare the act of purveying

3. rare that which is purveyed

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Other Word Forms

• nonpurveyance
  noun

Etymology

Origin of purveyance

1225–75; purvey + -ance; replacing Middle English purvea ( u ) nce, purvya ( u ) nce < Old French purveance < Latin prōvidentia. See providence

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

purveyance

"But it is contrary to our fundamental norms to permit government-sanctioned attacks on the purveyance of ideas, even when those ideas are repugnant."

From Reuters ● Mar. 21, 2014

Having saved their historic building from the knacker's yard in 1993, the Horse Hospital is now gearing up to celebrate 20 years of alternative pop-cultural purveyance.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 2, 2013

So might I ween that thinges, all and some, That *whilom be befall and overcome,* *have happened Be cause of thilke sov'reign purveyance, in times past* That foreknows all, withouten ignorance.

From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by D. Laing Purves

They were formed, Sir, on the principle of purveyance and receipt in kind.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 02 (of 12) by Edmund Burke

Such always have been and such always will be some of the evils of the purveyance system.

From Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official by William Sleeman